Read about who has the authority to send emergency alerts, the range of an alert and get help troubleshooting.
Emergency alerts can be sent to cell phones only, radio and TV only, or all three together.
These alerts must meet these criteria before proceeding:
Emergency alerts are sent by different agencies depending on the emergency.
These agencies use the Alert Ready system to send emergency alerts.
When a cell phone receives an emergency alert, it produces a unique vibration and alert tone.
When emergency alerts are sent to cell phones:
The reach of cell towers in the impacted area may extend outside the intended boundaries of the emergency alert, so alert messages can reach cell phones outside the impacted area. This overreach is likely and should be expected.
The extent of this overreach depends on the location and the range of the towers in the warning area. The coverage area of each tower can vary. Some towers cover small areas, and others cover large areas. Geography, like bodies of water or mountains, can also increase or decrease the reach of these towers.
Since overreach is to be expected, if you receive an emergency alert message on your cell phone you must verify the intended impacted area by:
Note: The emergency alert system does not locate or track individual cell phones. It simply broadcasts a message to all phones within range of the impacted area. In Canada, you cannot opt-out of receiving emergency alerts sent to cell phones. For more information, review privacy or opting out below.
When emergency alerts are sent to TV and radio stations in an impacted area, regular programming is interrupted by a unique alert tone. The emergency alert message is then read and/or displayed.
Emergency alerts can be broadcast to:
You may receive an alert on TV and radio if you are tuned-in to programming from a broadcaster that services the impacted area. Like emergency alerts sent to cell phones, overreach beyond the intended warning area on radio and TV is likely and should be expected.
Since overreach is to be expected, if you receive an emergency alert on TV or radio, verify the impacted area by:
Find answers to common emergency alerting questions and technical issues. Additional information is available on the AlertReady top questions and answers page.
Did not receive an emergency alert
You will receive an emergency alert on your wireless device if it is:
If your cell phone doesn't meet these conditions, you may not receive the alert. Please contact your wireless service provider if you have questions about receiving alerts on your device.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requires wireless service providers to distribute alerts to all compatible and connected wireless devices in the area covered by an alert.
Presidential Alerts
Phones purchased outside of Canada, manufactured before the emergency alert system was implemented, or manufactured to be compatible with the U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts system may receive a “Presidential Alert” or another non-Canadian headline banner. In Canada, governments and private sector partners have agreed to the term “EMERGENCY ALERT / ALERTE D’URGENCE”, outlined in the the National Public Alerting System Common Look and Feel Guidance.
Privacy or opting out
Emergency alerts are sent to cell phones, TV and radio without a subscription and at no cost.
Repeating alerts
If you are receiving identical alert messages multiple times, check if another app on your device is notifying you of the same alert. For example, you may be receiving the same alert through an app such as The Weather Network or an emergency alerting app from your local authority.
If you are receiving the same alert message repeatedly, check your device's notification settings. If you're unsure of where to look, search online for your device's user manual or contact your wireless service provider for help.
Subscription
Alerts will be broadcast without a subscription and at no cost. This will ensure the maximum number of people receive the alert immediately.
You can subscribe to emergency alerting apps on your cell phone as an additional way to receive emergency alerts in B.C. Contact your First Nation or local government for information about emergency alerting apps in your area.