Emergency alert not sent to some customers due to issue with wireless providers in Ontario
Published May 16, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Canada’s emergency alert system is working with cellphone providers to make sure users in Brampton and across Ontario aren’t left out of the next scheduled test.
A test of the Alert Ready system went out on Wednesday to television, radio and compatible wireless devices across Ontario, but some cellphone users in Brampton and other parts of the province reported they didn’t get the alert.
The emergency broadcast system warns Canadians about serious incidents like tornadoes, flooding, forest fires and other emergencies, as well as issuing AMBER alerts on missing children. But Alert Ready says some cellphone and wireless device users didn’t receive the test warning.
“The test identified that some Ontarians did not receive the test alert on their compatible wireless device,” Alert Ready said in a statement.
The emergency notification system said it was working with providers and identified what caused the issue, but didn’t say which company’s customers didn’t receive the notification.
Alert Ready says emergency alerts will be sent to compatible devices like a smartphone capable of connecting to an LTE network. Your device must have the latest version of its operating software and be connected to an LTE cellular network while the alert is active.
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If you receive repeated alerts for the same message, your wireless device likely has a reminder feature set which can cause the alert to repeat until you acknowledge it.
Testing is an important part of public alert systems and helps first responders and Alert Ready partners learn what areas need adjustment ahead of an actual emergency.
Anyone who didn’t receive an emergency alert on Wednesday is asked to file a report with Alert Ready.
The Alert Ready system was developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex, the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers.
The next scheduled test of the Alert Ready emergency system is on Nov. 15.
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