Alert Ready tests scheduled for Nov. 15 across Canada

Alert Ready, Canada’s emergency alerting system, will be conducting tests this Wednesday Nov. 15 across most of the country (a complete list is available on the Alert Ready website.)

Participating regions will receive a test message via television, radio and compatible wireless devices.

According to a press release, the CRTC “requires wireless service providers and broadcasters to send at least one test alert per year, either in May during Emergency Preparedness Week and/or in November. Participation in the testing of Alert Ready is at the sole discretion of each provincial and territorial emergency management organization.”

To assess and improve the effectiveness of the alerting system, especially for Canadians with disabilities, a survey will be conducted after the test.

“The survey aims to identify challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in perceiving, understanding and interacting with emergency alerts delivered through various technological avenues, such as cell phone alerts, mobile application alerts and alerts on the radio and television,” states the organization.