Latest news with #EmergencyPreparednessWeek
Montreal Gazette
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal weather: We'll take ours sunny side up
The forecast is a literal breath of fresh air, with a pollen count of zero in Montreal (don't worry, those days are coming) and an expected high of 27 C. The UV index Tuesday is 8, or high. At night, expect a low of 16 C under clear skies. If you missed the full moon Monday night, head out to see the almost-full moon, which is nearly as glorious. Beyond delightful days and star-filled nights, the arrival of warmer weather has a dark side. Environment Canada has launched Emergency Preparedness Week ahead of wildfire season. 'Every spark matters,' the federal meteorological agency says, nothing that while human activity was responsible for only seven per cent of the area that burned across Canada in 2023, 'human ignition still accounted for 40 per cent of the 6,700 fires recorded.'
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Canada tests emergency alert system to ensure public safety across provinces except Quebec and Alberta
Live Events Alert Ready Canada Canada tested its emergency alert systems Wednesday (May 7), using all the means of communication including phones, radios, and TVs to alert residents across all its provinces. The tests, conducted through Alert Ready, aimed to ensure the system's effectiveness in warning the public about potential dangers like environmental disasters or civil Ready messages were broadcast across every province and territory except Quebec and Alberta. The alerts were delivered through televisions, radios, and LTE-connected or compatible wireless devices. The timing of the test varied depending on the timings for the alerts were as follows - British Columbia 1:55 PM PDT, Manitoba 1:55 PM CDT, New Brunswick 10:55 AM ADT, Newfoundland & Labrador 10:45 AM NDT, Northwest Territories 9:55 AM MDT, Nova Scotia 1:55 PM ADT, Nunavut 2:00 PM EDT, Ontario 12:55 PM EDT, Prince Edward Island 12:55 PM ADT, Saskatchewan 1:55 PM CST, Yukon 1:55 PM Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission mandates that service providers distribute these alerts, and the public cannot opt Ontario, the test notification was accompanied by a distinctive alert tone. These alerts are designed to warn people about various emergency situations.'When an alert is heard, it is the responsibility of the public to stop, listen and respond as directed by the Government Issuer,' a message on the Alert Ready website Ontario alone, almost 240 alerts were issued the previous year. These included four civil emergencies, four AMBER alerts, and nearly 230 tornado a total of 855 notifications were used to warn the phones, radios, and TVs across British Columbia were lit up with an emergency alert Wednesday as part of a nationwide Ready Canada had on May 2, 2025, issued a press release stating that Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) will take place from May 5 to 11 in the country. The alerts are issued to ensure Canadians are prepared to deal with natural disasters and other major natural disasters that Canada deals with are wildfires, extreme cold, floods and earthquakes.
Global News
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Southern Alberta municipalities say emergency preparedness critical
A flash of lightning, a spark from a trailer, a cigarette tossed from a window — these are all potential igniters for a wildfire that can spiral out of control in mere seconds. This is Emergency Preparedness Week and several municipalities in southern Alberta are reminding residents to be ready for anything. 'You never know when you might be evacuated and be gone for a few days,' said Clayton Rutberg, the fire chief and director of protective services with the Town of Coaldale. While the landlocked Lethbridge region is safe from hurricanes and tsunamis, dangers like tornadoes, wildfires, blizzards and other extreme weather events can create a sudden and severe emergency. 'There's a lot of research that has shown Alberta's residents aren't as prepared as they should be for emergencies,' said Breea Tamminga, coordinator of emergency management with Lethbridge County. Story continues below advertisement Even man-made disasters could strike in a heartbeat. The Town of Coaldale conducted a simulated emergency scenario of a biohazard spill on Tuesday. 'We're simulating about half of the town being evacuated right now, so it's a lot of work logistically with how we would provide those services to residents to make sure they're taken care of,' said Rutberg. He says regular drills ensure everyone is ready for the real deal. 'It tests our incident management team and our ability to develop an incident action plan to basically carry out a response to ensure community safety during an emergency or large-scale disaster.' 1:38 Town of Coaldale hosts mock train derailment to prepare for potential disasters While mock disasters help emergency responders, a simple plan at home can reduce confusion or panic for families. Story continues below advertisement 'Having pets changes what an evacuation kit or 72-hour kit looks like. So does having children, so does having dependent adults in the house. Those are changes to both the plans and the products you would have in your 72-hour kits. So, we like to chat with people and hear what their circumstances are, then that way we can provide some guidance or support,' said Jamie Anderson, emergency planning administrator with the City of Lethbridge. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Lethbridge County says it's ideal to plan for multiple types of disasters, because you never know where you might be when one occurs. 'I always recommend three different emergency kits. One is that kit you're going to use if you have to leave your house unexpectedly. One is going to be a kit you're going to use if you have to shelter in place at your house. Then, another one (is for) your car.' She says a safe plan doesn't have to cost a fortune, either. 'The reality is, it's going to be way more costly if we're underprepared. Even getting supplies for emergency kits from the dollar store, often times we can put things together for less than $100.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The reality is, it's going to be way more costly if we're underprepared. Even getting supplies for emergency kits from the dollar store, often times we can put things together for less than $100." Anderson says some emergencies aren't always widespread, so planning for the unforeseen can be a challenge. 'If you work in the downtown core and your house and child care are on the west side, we've been known to have some bridge outages or accidents on the bridge. What does the plan look like in order to provide care if your daycare centre or day home's hours end? Do you have a neighbour or a friend who can pick up your child who is on the west side, or vice-versa? We've got people working on the west side who live on the north or south side here.' Story continues below advertisement 1:54 Mock disaster tests High River's emergency preparedness She says it's important to tailor your emergency plan for yourself, your family and anyone else living in your residence. Meanwhile, Tamminga says an insurance plan is also crucial to have before problems arise. 'Double-check your insurance policies to make sure you know what you're covered for in the event of an emergency.' While emergency situations can last longer than 72-hours, Anderson says that is typically enough time to bridge the gap between disaster and relief becoming available. 'That's kind of that basic necessities of life that bleed into have external resources that can provide those things. We also look at recommendation of two weeks, or 14 days for a shelter-in-place. That's having some canned goods on hand, if you have dietary considerations, baby formula or diapers, those sorts of things that would be needed, we recommend become part of your personal kits as well.' Story continues below advertisement At the municipal level, the Town of Coaldale's mayor, Jack Van Rijn, says collaboration between communities is crucial for everyone. 'In Lethbridge County, we have mutual partners and we have mutual aide agreements… we're here to help each other in case of any type of emergency,' said Van Rijn. He also stresses the importance of staying away from emergency situations so the authorities can safely work. 'It's vital that (people) stay away from the active scene because what happens is they block intersections, they impede the flow of traffic, emergency vehicle traffic to the scene. At the end of the day, that costs time and causes more damage and even, potentially, loss of life.' Specifically in Lethbridge, residents seeking additional information about how to prepare for emergencies are encouraged to call 3-1-1.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
National emergency alert system to be tested on Wednesday in much of Canada
Canada's National Public Alerting System (NPAS) is running tests on television, radio and compatible wireless devices across most of the country on Wednesday. The tests will happen in eight provinces and both territories. Alberta and Quebec do not have tests scheduled for this month. The system, called Alert Ready, delivers alerts about critical events such as tornadoes, flooding and fires, as well as Amber alerts. The sound will simulate the tone of an emergency alert, but no action is required for members of the public. It is possible for a phone not to register the alert — due to device compatibility, lack of a connection to an LTE or 5G network, cell tower coverage or device software and settings. A list of compatible wireless devices can be found here. The NPAS is a collaborative initiative between federal, provincial and territorial governments, although the decision on participating is up to each province. The tests in May occur during Emergency Preparedness Week, with Public Safety Canada providing an emergency preparedness guide on their website for Canadians. Here are the local testing times for May 7: British Columbia: 1:55 p.m. PT. Manitoba: 1:55 p.m. CT. New Brunswick: 10:55 a.m. AT. Newfoundland and Labrador: 10:45 a.m. NT. Northwest Territories: 9:55 a.m. MT. Nova Scotia: 1:55 p.m. AT. Nunavut: 2:00 p.m. ET. Ontario: 12:55 p.m. ET. Prince Edward Island: 12:55 p.m. AT. Saskatchewan: 1:55 p.m. CT. Yukon: 1:55 p.m. YT.
The Province
06-05-2025
- Climate
- The Province
B.C. emergency alert system will be tested Wednesday afternoon
Don't freak out if your phone goes off just before 2 p.m. on May 7. It's only a test B.C. residents should receive a test emergency alert at 1:55 p.m. on May 7. Photo by Jonathan Hayward / The Canadian Press Relax: This is a test. This is only a test. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors On Wednesday, May 7, at precisely 1:55 p.m., British Columbia residents will receive an emergency alert on cellphone, TV and radio in a twice-yearly test of the national warning system. (The other test is scheduled for November.) It's part of Emergency Preparedness Week and the national public alerting system, a collaboration among federal, provincial and territorial governments and their industry partners. Anyone with a compatible cellphone — it must be connected to an LTE cellular network to work, and it can't be in 'do not disturb' or airplane mode — will be sent a message that reads: 'This is a TEST of the B.C. Emergency Alert system. This is ONLY a TEST. In an emergency, this message would tell you what to do to stay safe. This information could save your life. Click for more info: This is ONLY a TEST. No action is required.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The alert will also interrupt radio and television broadcasts at the set time, said the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Climate Readiness in a news release. The test is designed to 'assess the system's readiness for an actual emergency and identify any required adjustments.' The real alerts aim to 'rapidly warn the public of imminent or unfolding hazards and threats to life and safety.' B.C. first launched its emergency alert system in April 2018. In 2022, the alerts were expanded beyond tsunami warnings to include imminent threats from flood, wildfires and extreme-heat emergencies. Last year, the federal government launched an earthquake early-warning system in B.C. In the event of a quake that meets an established threshold, the system automatically issues an 'intrusive alert message' to cellphones in areas that might be affected. Ideally, it is triggered before strong shaking is felt, providing 'precious seconds of warning for people to better protect themselves and others.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for sending alerts to cellphones for tornados, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and storm surges. Police are in charge of alerts for civil emergencies and Amber Alerts. In both the 2023 and 2024 wildfire seasons, tens of thousands of people were asked to evacuate on short notice as wildfires threatened their communities. 'B.C. emergency alerts were an important tool to provide people with timely, life-saving information,' said the ministry. Anyone interested in doing a short online survey to let system administrators know how it worked can do so in English or French. More information about emergency alerts in B.C. and what to do in a real one is available at Tips on creating a plan in a real emergency are at jruttle@ Read More Health Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Crime News
