Emergency sirens will sound across Canada on all types of devices shortly after noon today. According to a notice from Canada’s national public alert system, Alert Ready, a test alert will be issued in Ontario at 12:55 p.m.
Similar testing alerts will be issued at different times in other provinces and territories of Canada. The Alert Ready website states that test alerts will be clearly labeled “Test”. This information is intended to check if the system is functioning properly and to increase public awareness of the alert system. However, the website reminds users that they may need to manually confirm that they have received the emergency alert before the device can resume normal operation.
If confirmation is not possible, the alarm sound and vibration will continue for 8 seconds. Depending on the device, some phones may also receive additional notifications.
Alert Ready states that people cannot choose not to receive test alerts, but they may not receive them if the device is turned off; whether a sound will be emitted if the phone is in silent mode depends on the device model.
If you do not receive an alert, the website suggests checking your phone’s notification bar first, as you may sometimes miss it even if your device has received the alert successfully.
If you still haven’t received the alert, please check if your device is compatible with your carrier and ensure your software is updated.
Alert Ready points out that your location when the alert was issued, and whether you were connected to an LTE or 5G network at the time, can also affect whether you receive the alert.