Manitoba preps for second Alert Ready test

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This article was published 27/11/2018 (2649 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans are asked to be on the alert… for an alert coming to their smartphones, televisions, radios and computers.

The country’s second Alert Ready public-awareness test takes place today at 1:55 p.m.

“The emergency text message will be distributed through radio, cable and satellite TV broadcasters, web feeds and to compatible wireless devices,” Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said in a statement Tuesday.

It is the second such alert this year in Manitoba, following a test in May.

The system was implemented to distribute warnings of imminent safety threats, including weather disasters such as tornadoes and floods, as well as Amber Alerts and terrorist threats.

Many Manitoba residents failed to get the last alert on their cellphones — and Schuler said that will likely happen again.

“This may occur for a variety of reasons, including device compatibility, connection to a long-term evolution (LTE) network, cell tower coverage, and individual device software and settings,” he said.

To get the alert, a phone has to have the latest operating software and be connected to an LTE network when the message goes out.

“Manitobans are an important partner in this, so if you receive an emergency alert message, share it with your friends, your family and your social networks, because not everyone may receive the alert,” Schuler said.

“Knowing what to do in an emergency, and being prepared, is important to protect yourself, your family and your community.”

Martin Belanger, director of public alerting at Pelmorex, the company which operates the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System, said: “Keeping Canadians safe and informed is of the utmost importance for us.

“Testing all components across the country is an important and necessary part of any public-alerting system.”

The province said anyone who receives the alert on their cellphone while driving should remain calm, and pull over when it’s safe to do so to check the message.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission currently requires 50 per cent of new wireless devices for sale be able to receive Alert Ready alerts. By April 2019, all devices sold have to be compatible.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @KevinRollason