Public alert system test scheduled across most of Canada
People can expect a 30-second announcement on TV, radio and phones Wednesday afternoon
People across most of Canada can expect an alert on their televisions, phones and over the radio Wednesday as part of an alert test scheduled for the afternoon. (File photo)
People in Nunavut and across most of Canada can expect to hear a test Wednesday of the National Public Alerting System.
The test is scheduled in Nunavut for 2 p.m. EDT, 1 p.m. CDT and 12 p.m. MDT, announced the Department of Community Services in a public service announcement Tuesday.
All provinces and territories except Alberta and Quebec have a test scheduled.
It will be broadcast via cellular networks, television and radio and will last about 30 seconds.
The test alert message will state: “This is a test of the National public alerting system / Nunavut alerting system issued by Nunavut Emergency Management. This is only a test. If this had been an actual emergency or threat, you would now hear instructions that would assist you to protect you and your family.”
The goal is to ensure emergency response agencies have access to the tools they need to protect the public, the announcement said.
I expect there are more people injured by those phone alerts than are helped. Folks driving down the highway smilin’ getting a loud alarm inside their car, then reaching for their phones to read the message and react. If they don’t have a heart attack before they go off the road or slam into another object, they’ll do something even worse.