1. How does the alert system work?
The National Public Alerting System (NPAS) is the result of collaboration between the governments of Canada, provinces and territories. It makes it possible to mobilize the airtime of television channels and radio stations to transmit emergency messages, which are also relayed on smart phones.
In Quebec, the Ministère de la Sécurité publique is responsible for the Québec En Alerte system.
"It is a complementary means to traditional media, social media and other citizen alert tools set up in municipalities such as call machines", indicates the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security, Marie-Josée Montminy, in an exchange of emails.
As soon as a threat arises, municipalities or police services send an emergency message to the Government Operations Center (COG), which broadcasts it in the Québec En Alerte system.
If an extreme weather event occurs, such as a tornado or hailstorm, Environment Canada is responsible for communicating warnings.
2. What types of events can be alerted?
The Québec En Alerte system is used in the event of a civil crisis, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, an Amber alert (disappearance of a child), a flood, an earthquake earth or a devastating fire.
Public authorities can also use the alert system if the 9-1-1 service is disrupted or if hazardous materials are spreading and posing a risk to the nearby population.
"The current event must represent an immediate or imminent threat to the life or safety of citizens," says Mme Montminy.
An alert can be launched throughout Quebec or in a specific territory. For example, the one issued in August 2020 about a tornado only concerned a 7 km corridor along the Ottawa River, in Gatineau and in Ontario. Those who were in the area targeted by the alert were able to be informed of the emergency situation.
Every November, the Ministry of Public Security also issues a test message to familiarize Quebecers with this communication tool.
3. Do all cell phones receive alerts?
To receive an alert, your phone must be able to connect to an LTE (Long Term Evolution) network when it is triggered. Otherwise, you will not be notified of the emergency.
Alerts are also transmitted on the Météomédia mobile application. Pelmorex, the company that owns the television station, designed the infrastructure that allows emergency messages to be sent. It also broadcasts them on its platforms.
4. Alerts bother me. Can I reduce the volume or mute it completely?
Tests conducted in January 2020 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) show that it is possible to adjust the alert volume on most devices tested.
“In many cases, the volume of a ringtone for a phone call can be changed separately from the volume of emergency alerts, say the CRTC’s findings. However, in some cases, the alert sets the alert volume level, but it is the ringer on or off that determines whether or not the emergency alert ringer will be heard.
Can we activate the ringtone for phone calls and opt for vibration or even silence for emergency alerts? The CRTC found that the Samsung S9, Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3 XL, LG G8 ThinQ and Huawei P30 models allow it, but not the iPhone 7 and 8, Huawei P20 Mate Pro and LG G7 devices.
Emergency messages cannot be received with a phone set to Airplane Mode, but they will be received if Do Not Disturb is enabled with iPhone 7 and 8, Samsung 9, and Huawei P30. With the other devices tested, the alarm could be muted.
The Ministry of Public Security stresses that mobile telecommunications providers have an obligation to transmit emergency messages. “These alerts are useful and can save lives,” insists Marie-Josée Montminy.
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5. What are the impacts of the alert system?
The Department of Public Security says the system is having a positive impact. He gives as an example the alerts issued on September 21, 2018 when tornadoes threatened to sweep through eastern Ontario and part of Quebec.
“Citizens of Gatineau testified that the alert system made them aware of the apprehended danger and that it allowed them to get to safety in time,” reports Marie-Josée Montminy.
Before Christmas, an Amber alert broadcast on the Québec En Alerte platform also helped the police to quickly find the two wanted children, adds the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security.
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