Coming soon to your mobile device: Wireless emergency alerts

Emergency alerts delivered to mobile devices will be another tool to advise Islanders of unexpected situations when lives may be at immediate risk

The Alert Ready system already enhances public safety communications across Canada by delivering alerts through radio and TV, and – starting April 6 -- compatible mobile devices. Islanders will receive their first test alert on May 9; in the meantime, mobile carriers may send their customers messages about the new system.

“The PEI Emergency Measures Organization is responsible for issuing emergency alerts in Prince Edward Island when there is an immediate risk to the safety of Islanders – they are already on radio and TV, and Islanders will soon see them on compatible mobile devices as well,” said Tanya Mullally of the PEI Emergency Measures Organization. “In addition to working with emergency first responders and local media, and distributing messages through our online and social media channels, Alert Ready is one more way to get the most important emergency information to Islanders when and where they need it.”

There is no cost for wireless emergency alerts. Although not all mobile devices are currently compatible to receive them, it is important to note that wireless emergency alerts are only one potential tool for communicating with Islanders. In an emergency, PEI Public Safety will also deliver emergency messages through all appropriate and available communications methods. 

To learn more about wireless emergency alerts and to find out if your device is compatible, visit www.alertready.ca

Media contact:
Katie MacDonald
Department of Justice and Public Safety
katiemacdonald@gov.pe.ca
 

Backgrounder

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) directed all wireless service providers to implement a wireless public alerting system on their LTE (long-term evolution) networks by April 2018. As a result, Alert Ready wireless alerting was developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex Corp. and the broadcast industry.

How it works

Most of the time, PEI Public Safety will distribute safety messages through traditional methods like working with local emergency responders, notifying local media, posting online and on social media, and other available communications methods.

If there is an immediate risk to life and safety in Prince Edward Island, the PEI Emergency Measures Organization will also issue broadcast or wireless alerts via the Alert Ready system. For example:

• there could be an Alert Ready emergency message if a forest fire or flash flood poses an immediate threat to human lives and requires an evacuation; and
• Environment and Climate Change Canada can also issue Alert Ready messages to Islanders in the case of weather emergencies.

Emergency alerts on wireless devices are issued to a defined geographic area, so only people in the affected community or geographic area will receive the emergency alerts.

Media companies, including television, radio stations, cable and satellite distributors, as well as websites receive these emergency alerts from the PEI Emergency Measures Organization and immediately relay them to their consumers.