Province to test B.C.-wide emergency alert system this afternoon

Don’t panic — it’s just a practice.

The province will conduct a test of a B.C.-wide emergency alert system on this afternoon at 1:55 p.m.

The test will consist of television and radio alerts. Wireless alerts to smartphones will not be made.

“This is part of a Canada-wide system — Alert Ready — that allows government officials to issue public safety alerts through major television and radio broadcasters,” read a notice issued Tuesday. “This system will only be used during large-scale disasters or emergencies where loss of life is imminent and possible.”

Alerts that could be broadcast through the system once it is operational include warnings about urban or wild fires, natural disasters, biological contamination, hazardous substances, severe air quality warnings, terrorist incidents or civil emergencies.

The system allowing for wireless alerts to be issued should be ready as early as April 6.

According to information available at alertready.ca, the next scheduled test in B.C. will be May 9, 2018 at 1:55 p.m. That test will include television, radio and wireless smartphone alerts.

Other tests are also scheduled for June, September and December of this year.