First province-wide test of the new Alberta Emergency Alert

ALBERTA
EMERGENCY
ALERT

September 20, 2011

The new public alerting system, Alberta Emergency Alert, is scheduled for its first province-wide test on Wednesday, September 21.


At 1:58 p.m., Albertans will see and hear a test alert on participating broadcast channels and social media. The test will help build Albertans’ recognition of the new alert so they know what to expect and how to respond when an emergency occurs in their community.

“The support of television and radio station volunteer partners is key to helping alert Albertans of an emergency or disaster,” said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “We are hoping the test will encourage more broadcasters to participate in the program.”

The Alberta Emergency Alert system is operated by the Government of Alberta through the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Authorized users such as municipalities, police, emergency response organizations and other government partners, issue alerts on the system to inform the public of an emergency or disaster.

This new alerting system enables authorized users to issue more types of alerts including critical alerts for imminent, life-threatening danger and information alerts to warn people of developing situations, such as weather alerts, and how to prepare for them. The system is based on a digital signal distributed through radio and television and includes a website, with alerts distributed through social media.

Current alerts are posted at www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca and on the Alberta Emergency Alert Facebook and Twitter page.