National alert system to run test May 8

The national emergency alerting system will be set off May 8 as part of a Canada-wide test next week and this time, Nunavut will take part.

Alert Ready delivers important and emergency notices to Canadians through television, radio and LTE-connected wireless devices.

In Nunavut, resident will receive that test alert next Wednesday, May 8 at 1:55 p.m. EDT, 12:55 p.m. CST and 11:55 p.m. MST.

The message will read: “This is a test. No action is required.” The alert should last for 30 seconds.

The national alert system is designed to send out critical information in the case of a public and potential life-threatening emergency. Ongoing testing ensures the system is working, the organization said.

In Nunavut, the alert system is overseen by the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Community and Government Services.

The GN opted out of the last national alert test in May 2018, saying it needed more time to work out cellular coverage across the territory and to ensure the message would be translated into its four official languages: English, French, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun.

But Nunavut and Nunavik did participate in a test conducted in November 2018.

You can get more information on the emergency alerting system here.