If you receive an emergency alert
During a life-threatening emergency, an emergency alert will be issued to impacted areas in B.C. Some alerts may be sent to small warning areas, while others may affect more than one region or be issued province-wide.
What to do when you receive an alert
Do not call 911 unless you are trapped and unable to evacuate or are experiencing a medical or safety emergency.
If you receive an emergency alert follow these 4 steps:
Step 1
Stop what you're doing and read or listen to the entire alert.
Step 2
Determine if you are in the impacted area:
- Carefully assess the impacted area description in the alert message
- Visit the webpage included in the message for more information or a map
Step 3
If you are in the impacted area, follow all directions, which could include:
- evacuate the area (read evacuation guidance information)
- shelter-in-place
Step 4
When safe to do so, check for other sources of information from your local government, First Nation, and emergency officials.
Other sources of information
Emergency alerts are meant to complement, not replace, existing emergency information and alerting functions, including:
- Other warnings provided by local authorities, First Nations, and other trusted agencies
- The Emergency Info BC website and @EmergencyInfoBC on Twitter for information about active provincial emergencies
- The BC RCMP website and @BCRCMP on Twitter for information about Amber Alerts and civil emergencies
- The Environment Canada public weather alerts map and @ECCCWeatherBC on Twitter for weather warnings, watches and statements
- The Drive BC website and your regional Drive BC account on Twitter for information about roads and highways
Alert 'ended'
An update on the situation may be issued once the situation has been resolved. The “all clear” message could be distributed via radio and television stations at their discretion but will only be sent to wireless devices if the alert is a “shelter-in-place” alert. Monitor your local media for information.
