What to do if you receive an alert
If you receive an alert, it is important to follow these instructions:
- Stop what you are doing as soon as you can;
- Listen to or read the alert;
- If the alert concerns you or the area in which you are located, follow the directives on how to protect yourself and reduce the likely consequences of the event.
Due to technological limitations, alert messages may be received beyond the sectors targeted by the alert. It is important to pay attention to the area mentioned in the message to determine whether you need to take specific actions in accordance with the safety instructions provided.
Alerts on cell phones
It is not possible to unsubscribe from alerts.
Alerts received on your cell phone are not text messages. They are transmitted via cell broadcast. This mobile technology allows messages to be sent to all compatible smartphones within the reception area of the cell towers selected for the alert.
Alerts are not linked to your phone's location services. Even if location services are turned off, you will still receive alerts.
Your mobile data usage is not affected by receiving alerts, and no personal data is collected (e.g., cell phone number).
In general, the settings on your device will be respected when you receive an alert. For example, if your phone is set to silent mode, no sound will accompany the message. However, this may vary depending on the device.
Possible scenarios for receiving an alert on your cell phone
- If you are on the phone when you receive an emergency alert, you will hear a tone and, once the call is ended, the alert will appear on your screen. An alert will not end a phone call.
- If you are performing another activity on your mobile device (e.g., playing a game, participating in a video conference, downloading an application), your activities will not be interrupted, but may be briefly suspended by the display of the alert message.
- If an emergency alert is broadcast when your mobile device is turned off, you will not receive anything.
- If an emergency alert is still in progress when you turn your device back on, the alert will be displayed if you are in the targeted area. If the broadcast has ended or you are not in the targeted area, the alert will not be displayed.
Cell phone compatibility
For a mobile device to receive an alert, it must be:
- Compatible with the Alert Ready
wireless public alert service , as is the case for a smartphone; - Connected to an LTE/5G network when the emergency alert is broadcast or connected to such a network while the alert is still in progress.
Older cell phones that operate exclusively on networks in place prior to LTE will not receive alerts. It is very important to have your service provider check your device's compatibility. If your device was purchased outside of Canada, you may need to contact the device manufacturer for additional information about your device.
Television alerts
When possible, telecommunications companies must display the alert on television. The alert message interrupts the television program in progress in the affected regions. The alert message will be displayed on a full red screen or in a scrolling red bar. The text must be white and large enough to be easily read by all concerned.
Radio alerts
Telecommunications service providers must first emit an audible signal to indicate that an emergency alert is being broadcast to the public. This is followed by an audio transcription of the emergency alert text. The alert message interrupts the radio program currently being broadcast in the affected regions.
Listen to an example of an audio message:
In Québec, alerts are broadcast first in French, then in English, Canada's two official languages.