If you hear incredibly loud sirens in Montreal on Thursday evening, don't worry, it's not the apocalypse. The city is actually testing out its emergency alert system "in order to raise awareness of the industrial risks and to make known the safety instructions to be observed in the event of a toxic leak." Nine factories around the island will participate in this event.
"The Montreal Fire Department works in concert with industries subject to the 'Environmental Emergency Regulations' to ensure that in the event of a major industrial accident, all means are put in place to warn and effectively protect the population," said Rosannie Filato, public security manager on the executive committee of the City of Montreal.
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"This annual readiness test makes it possible to publicize the risks and behaviours that residents of the sectors concerned must adopt in the event of a toxic product leak."
Between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on September 24, neighbourhoods across Montreal will hear the alert.
Nine factories, including the Molson, Saputo, and Labatt factories, will sound their alarms.
The alarms are connected to the 911 system and the fire department is deployed in case the alarm is real.
"In the event of a spill, leak, fire or explosion during the transport of hazardous materials, various responders will be deployed quickly to secure the premises and communicate the directives to the population," said the city.
Here are the factories that will be affected:
Pêcheries Atlantiques (3785, rue François-Bricault) between 4:30 p.m. and 4:37 p.m.
Usine de soufre de Suncor Montréal (11450, rue Cherrier) between 4:45 p.m. and 4:52 p.m.
Entreprise Indorama PTA Montréal (10200, rue Sherbrooke E.) between 5 p.m. and 5:07 p.m.
Saputo Produits Laitiers Canada (7750, rue Pascal-Gagnon) at 5:15 p.m.
Boeuf Mérite (11701, boulevard Albert-Hudon) between 5:22 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Molson Coors (1550, rue Notre-Dame E.) between 5:45 p.m. and 5:52 p.m.
Saputo Produits Laitiers Canada (2365, chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse) between 6 p.m., 6:07 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
La Brasserie Labatt du Canada (50, rue Labatt) between 6:25 p.m. and 6:32 p.m.
Parmalat (7470, rue Saint-Jacques O.) between 6:45 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Time to pull out the earplugs.
This article's cover image is used for illustrative purposes only.
