Cellphones throughout Ontario are set to receive a collective text on Wednesday afternoon, courtesy of a public alerting system test.
The test is set for 12:55 p.m.
A least one annual test is required by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecom (CRTC), either during Emergency Preparedness Week in May or in November, though picking of the date is at the discretion of the provincial emergency management organization.
“The test message will simulate an emergency alert, beginning with the alert tone, known as the Canadian Alert Attention Signal,” explains a news release. “The message will indicate that it is a test and does not require action from the public.”
Testing is thought to increase public awareness about the system and inspire emergency preparedness conversations, as well as check the effectiveness and reliability of the system.
“The test alert will be distributed on TV, radio and wireless,” the release notes. “However, not all Canadians will receive the test alert on their mobile device. This may occur for a variety of reasons – device compatibility, connection to an LTE network, cell tower coverage and device software and settings.”
