Province testing emergency alert system next week

If you receive an loud, blinking emergency push alert on your phone next Wednesday, don't be alarmed it's just a test.

Manitoba Infrastructure's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) will be sending an emergency alert message through Alert Readyat1:55 p.m. to test the alert system.

The Alert Ready program is a national warning system that sends out emergency notices from government agencies to broadcasters.

This is the second test of the system performed in Manitoba this year. The first was carried out in May.

The emergency alert test message will be distributed on cable and satellite TV, radio, web feeds and compatible wireless devices.

Right now, the CRTCrequires that 50 per cent of new devices available for sale in Canada must be compatible with the national Alert Ready system. By April 2019, all new devices will have to be compatible, the provincial government said in a news release.

In September, some people raised concerns about the effectiveness of the alert system after a province-wide Amber Alert was issued in Manitoba.

Manitobanson different carriers with a variety inlevels of service including LTE coverage said they either got the alert, didn't get it at all or got it multiple times.