Alert Ready testing in Manitoba today

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This article was published 09/05/2018 (2849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Will the kinks in the Alert Ready’s emergency messaging system be ironed out when it is tested in Manitoba this afternoon?

Stay tuned.

When it was tested Monday, the system misfired in Quebec and was hit and miss in Ontario.

Some wireless users did not receive the test alert in Ontario, and Alert Ready issued a statement this week saying it was working to identify the cause. In Quebec, a space incorrectly included in the coding prevented the Alert Ready system from sending the test message to compatible wireless devices. The misconfiguration was quickly corrected, officials said.

The system was developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex Corp. and the broadcast industry to ensure Canadians receive important information and know when to take action to keep themselves safe.

The whole point of testing the system is to make sure all of its components work before an actual emergency, Alert Ready said Tuesday in a statement.

In Manitoba, Bell MTS and other service providers sent messages to customers this week giving them a heads-up about today’s test.

“You may receive an emergency alert on your phone from Alert Ready,” according to the message. “No action required.”

The Manitoba test is expected to be sent to compatible cellphones and smartphones at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, as part of National Emergency Preparedness Week, Ron Schuler, the minister responsible for emergency measures, said Tuesday.

“This expansion of the warning system for emergencies and disasters will now include compatible wireless devices, in addition to radio, cable and satellite TV distribution and web feeds,” Schuler said in a news release.

In Manitoba, only the province and Environment and Climate Change Canada are authorized to issue emergency messages using Alert Ready.

The emergency alerts are not text — or SMS — messages, but are distributed using what’s known as cell broadcast technology.

The emergency alert message begins with a distinct sound and vibration, followed by an emergency alert banner displayed on the device and a message outlining the nature of the alert.

The Alert Ready system notifies Canadians of potentially life-threatening events. The recent inclusion of wireless public alerting means emergency messages are able to reach more Manitobans.

There is no sign-up or opt-in required. Emergency alerts will be automatically sent to compatible wireless devices.

There is no opt-out feature, either. Regulations require all Canadian wireless service providers to distribute emergency alerts.

A compatible wireless device that is turned off will not display an emergency alert.

If the emergency alert is still active when the wireless device is powered up, and it is still in the alert area, the device will display the alert.

A device set to silent mode will display an emergency alert, but no tone will accompany it — usually. Alert Ready said, depending on the device and circumstances, the alert tone may override user settings.

Schuler reminded Manitobans to be careful when they receive today’s test alert.

“If you are driving, pull over, be safe and be prepared,” the minister said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca