Don't Panic When You Get An Emergency Alert Next Wednesday, At Least Not More Than Usual

This time it's just a drill! 🚨
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Quebec's minister of public security, Geneviève Guilbault, announced that the ministry would be testing its Québec En Alerte emergency alert system in Quebec next week... so don't panic when you see the message even if it feels like a classic 2020 situation.

The alert is set to go off on November 25 at 1:55 p.m. 

The ministry has clarified the message will inform Quebecers that there is no real threat and the notification is being carried out as a test.

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A test of the Québec En Alerte system will be carried out on November 25, 2020, at 1:55 p.m., as part of a day of testing that will take place in all provinces and territories of the country.

Geneviève Guilbault, Quebec's minister of public security, in a press release on November 18

"[The alert is] intended to make the population aware of the display of the alert and sound signal in the event of a life-threatening situation," the minister said in a press release.

Examples of real events that would trigger an alert include a risk of explosion, a gas leak, a flash flood, a forest fire, a tornado or another threat to life, such as an Ambert Alert.

The test message will be broadcast on radio, TV and select wireless devices connected to an LTE network, in addition to being posted on the Ministry of Security's website and Guilbault's Twitter and Facebook pages.

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The Ministry says cell phones will not receive the message unless they are connected to an LTE network. 

That means you won't be able to see the alert on your phone if you're connected to a Wi-Fi network.  

The message is set to be broadcast in English and French.

  • Lea Sabbah
  • Lea Sabbah was a Staff Writer for MTL Blog. Previously, Lea was a radio host on CJLO 1690 AM and her work has been published by Global News, the Toronto Star, Le Devoir and the National Observer. In 2019, she was part of the investigative team that uncovered lead in Montreal's drinking water — a story which won Quebec's Grand Prix Judith-Jasmin. She's a graduate of the journalism program at Concordia University.

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