An emergency alert will sound across the province on Wednesday afternoon as part of a test.
Emergency Management B.C. will test the emergency alert system at 1:55 p.m. During the test, an alert tone will sound and a message will appear across devices and stations.
Members of the public are asked not to call 911 in response to the test alarm, as non-emergency calls delay help for people experiencing real emergencies.
According to Alert Ready, B.C. has so far issued seven alerts so far this year: three civil emergencies, two wildfire alerts and two for child abductions. In comparison, Alberta has put out 117, Manitoba 115 and Ontario 176.
Emergency alerts can be issued at the request of local governments, First Nations or the province during high-risk flood and wildfire evacuations, extreme heat emergencies and tsunami warnings.
B.C. RCMP and local police can use the system for an Amber Alert when there is a child abduction case or during civil emergencies, including active shooter events.
Environment and Climate Change Canada can issue an alert during severe weather events such as tornadoes and thunderstorms.
Depending on your phone’s settings, you may receive an early alert message without sound.
After the test, you can submit feedback through an online survey.
Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon will be conducting similar tests on Wednesday.
B.C.'s message will read: "This is a TEST of the BC emergency alert system, issued by Emergency Management BC. This is ONLY A TEST. In an actual emergency, this message would contain instructions to help keep you and your community safe. Learn more about how, when and why emergency alerts are issued in BC at www.emergencyinfobc.ca/alert. This is ONLY A TEST. No action is required.”
