The City of Nelson will perform a TEST of its Emergency Notification System on May 7 at 12 p.m during Emergency Preparedness Week.
A media release from the City stated that anyone registered with the City’s Emergency Notification System will receive a TEST notification on the device they registered with (text, landline, email, or app).
This test aims to get residents thinking about emergency preparedness, provide a preview of what an Emergency Notification alert would look and sound like, and encourage those who have not yet registered to do so.
Emergency Preparedness Week runs from May 5 to 11.
The city said the week provides community members the opportunity to learn about preparing for emergencies, with the theme of this year being ‘Be Prepared. Know Your Risks’ to encourage awareness of local risks and what actions to take to protect yourself.
The city uses The Voyent Alert! Emergency Notification System, which aligns with communities throughout the Kootenays, including RDCK, RDKB, and RDEK, who also use the system.
Emergency Notifications will only be used for significant emergencies such as a nearby wildfire, hazardous materials release, extreme weather, or other high-consequence events.
These notifications will advise users on what is happening and what they should do, such as preparing for an evacuation or taking shelter by closing all doors and windows.
The city strongly encourages those who haven’t signed up for the system to visit their website and register.
In addition to signing up for the Emergency Notifications, the city also encourages everyone to develop a personal Emergency Plan, an emergency kit, and a grab-and-go bag.
The city said residents should make sure their emergency plan includes one for their pets and a place to go and how to get there in case of an evacuation.
Additionally, on May 8 the province will also be sending out an emergency test alert as part of Emergency Preparedness Week.
The alert will interupt radio and television broadcasts, and will be sent out to all compatiable cellphones at 10:55 a.m.
For more information on the Nelson Emergency Notification System and instructions on how to sign up click here.
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