Quebec’s emergency alert test scheduled for today

The national Alert Ready system will be tested on Wednesday in Atlantic Canada.

Quebec’s Public Security Ministry will run an emergency alert test on Wednesday, which will likely appear on your smartphone.

The alert will read:

“This is a scheduled TEST of Québec En Alerte -- No action is required. This is a test of Québec En Alerte. There is no danger to your health or safety. If this were a real emergency, you would now be receiving instructions on how to protect yourself.”

The test will happen at 1:55 p.m. on Nov. 19.

READ MORE: You can expect a test alert on devices nationwide today. This is why.

The point is to allow the ministry, as well as broadcasters and telecommunications companies, to ensure the system is working properly and to remind the general public of the tool.

The following are among the reasons for an alert:

• a risk of natural disaster (e.g., tornado, forest fire);
• a missing person (e.g., AMBER alert);
• a dangerous situation (e.g., armed individual).

Any alert can be double-checked on the government’s website.