B.C. to Conduct Emergency Alert Test Amid Severe Storm Warnings

British Columbia will conduct a province-wide test of its emergency alert system on Wednesday afternoon, coinciding with severe storm warnings due to the development of a powerful "bomb cyclone" over the Pacific Ocean.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness announced that the alert will be sent to all compatible cellphones, interrupting radio and television broadcasts at 1:55 p.m. PT.

The alert will read:
"This is a TEST of the BC Emergency Alert system. This is ONLY a TEST. In an emergency, this message would tell you what to do to stay safe."

The test is part of a biannual program, with alerts tested each spring and fall. The system is designed to notify residents of critical emergencies, such as tsunamis, wildfires, floods, extreme heat events, civil emergencies, and Amber Alerts.

If you do not receive the alert, the Ministry says it could be due to several factors:

• Your phone may not be connected to an LTE cellular network.

• Your phone's software may be out of date.

• The device may be set to "Do Not Disturb" or "Airplane Mode."

Coinciding with Severe Weather

The test comes as B.C.’s South Coast faces strong winds and storm warnings. Environment Canada has warned of easterly winds reaching speeds of 90 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h. Some areas on the North Coast are expected to experience gusts as high as 150 km/h.

Science communicator Darius Mahdavi described the storm system’s central pressure as comparable to a Category 3 or 4 hurricane.

“This is shaping up to be a significant and widespread wind event, with impacts expected across multiple regions,” Mahdavi said.

The Ministry urges residents to remain prepared and to use this test as a reminder to update emergency kits and plans.