The City of Nelson is testing its emergency notification system at noon on Monday, May 4, for Emergency Preparedness Week.
Emergency Preparedness Week 2025 is May 4–10. This year’s theme is “Be Prepared, Know Your Risks.”
The City of Nelson uses the Voyent Alert! Emergency Notification System, which aligns with communities throughout the Kootenays, including the RDCK, Creston, and Castlegar, as the primary notification system.
At 12 p.m. on Monday, those who have registered with the City’s Emergency Notification System will receive a TEST notification on the device they registered with (text, landline, email, or app).
The City says the 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.
“We encourage you to understand the risks in your area and learn what actions you can take to protect yourself and your household. Also, remember that we’re in it together. True preparedness and resilience come from all of us working together: individuals, organizations, and government, so we can all respond and recover better,” said the City in a press release.
Emergency Notifications will only be used for significant emergencies such as a nearby wildfire, hazardous materials release, extreme weather, or other high-consequence events.
The notifications will advise residents 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 says signing up to receive Emergency Notifications is vital to individual and community preparedness.
To sign up, click here or your device’s App Store to download the Voyent Alert! App and register.
In addition to signing up to receive Emergency Notifications, everyone should have a personal Emergency Plan, an emergency kit, and a Grab-and-Go Bag.
In the case of an evacuation, it’s particularly important that residents know in advance where they will go and how they will get there.
Additionally, check with your neighbours, as they may require assistance, and don’t forget to plan for your pets-have carriers, leashes, and food in a “Grab-and-Go” bag.
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