Who sends emergency alerts?
Federal, provincial, and territorial governments are responsible for issuing emergency alerts. Federally, emergency alerts are issued most frequently by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Media companies, including television, radio stations, cable and satellite distributors, as well as websites receive these emergency alerts and relay them to their consumers.
Since 2018, wireless service providers, like Videotron, are capable of distributing emergency alerts received from alerting authorities directly to their consumers’ compatible wireless devices connected to LTE networks using Cell Broadcast distribution.
Broadcasters and wireless service providers are only required to distribute emergency alerts for situations that pose an immediate threat-to-life: fire, natural disasters, biochemical risks, hazardous, environmental problems, terrorist threats, missing children (AMBER Alert) and civil emergency.
How does the Alert Ready service work?
Emergency alerts intended for wireless devices are issued to a defined geographic area, which can be as small as a few city blocks, so that only people in the defined area receive the emergency alerts. Compatible wireless devices in the targeted area will receive the emergency alerts within seconds of alert issuance, provided the phones are powered on and connected to the LTE cellular network.
Emergency alerts begin with a distinct sound, known as the Canadian Alert Attention Signal. Emergency alerts sent to compatible wireless devices may also cause the phone to vibrate.
The emergency alert will display an EMERGENCY ALERT/ALERTE D’URGENCE banner, followed by text that describes the situation and provides instructions on what actions to take and where to find more information. At the top of each emergency alert, the issuing government agency will be clearly indicated.
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Emergency alerts will not end or terminate a voice call or data session in progress. If you are on a voice call when the emergency alert is received, you will be made aware of the alert by a notification tone (similar to call waiting). When your call terminates the alert will be displayed on your wireless device.
How do I disable an alert?
Warning: Even though some mobile device settings may seem to suggest otherwise, you cannot disable threat-to-life emergency alerts. These alerts are mandated by government regulation.
However, you can disable the alert repeat function. Follow the steps for your device model.
- Scroll down your screen to display Notifications.
- Toggle Emergency Alerts to the off (left) position.
- Press Clear.
If necessary, see additional information on managing notifications on an iPhone.
- Scroll down your screen to display Notifications.
- Tap Emergency Alerts to open it.
- Press OK at the bottom of the message.
If necessary, see additional information on managing notifications on an Android device.
Who receives Alert Ready messages?
Anyone who has a wireless device that is WPA-compatible will receive Alert Ready messages. This is an LTE device that has special software embedded in it which allows for messages sent by your service provider, via Cell Broadcast, to be received in the standard Alert Ready format.
The list of the compatible devices is:
Go Flip 3
Go Flip
A50
iPhone 5s
iPhone 6
iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone 6S
iPhone 6S Plus
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone SE
iPhone SE (2e génération)
iPhone SE (3e génération)
iPhone X
iPhone XR
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
DTEK50
Cat S31
Snap
Pixel 2
Pixel 2 XL
Pixel 3
Pixel 3 XL
Pixel 3a
Pixel 3a XL
Pixel 4
Pixel 4 XL
Pixel 4a
Pixel 4a (5G)
Pixel 5
Pixel 6
Pixel 6a
Pixel 6 Pro
Pixel 7
Pixel 7 Pro
P30 Lite
P30
P30 Pro
P10 Lite
P20 Pro
Mate 20 Pro
P10
P40
P40 Pro
G5
Q6
Stylo 3 Plus
G6
G6+
G7 One
G8 ThinQ
G8X ThinQ Dual Screen
K30
K41s
K61
Q Stylo+
Q60
Q70
Velvet
X power 3
Moto E5 play
Moto G5
Moto E (2020)
Moto E6
Moto G Power
Moto G Stylus
Moto G 5G
Moto G 5G (2023)
Moto G6
Moto G6 Play
Moto G7
Moto G7 Play
Moto G Play (2023)
Moto G Power (2021)
Moto G Pure
Moto G Stylus 5G
Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
Moto Razr+ (2023)
Moto Z2 Play
Moto Z3 Play
Moto Z4
One 5G Ace
One Hyper
Nokia 3.4
Galaxy A5 (2017)
Galaxy A8
Galaxy A10e
Galaxy A12
Galaxy A13 5G
Galaxy A14 5G
Galaxy A20
Galaxy A21
Galaxy A32
Galaxy A50
Galaxy A51
Galaxy A52
Galaxy A53 5G
Galaxy A70
Galaxy A71
Galaxy J3
Galaxy J3 Prime
Galaxy Note 8
Galaxy Note 9
Galaxy Note 10+
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Galaxy S7
Galaxy S7 edge
Galaxy S8
Galaxy S8 Plus
Galaxy S9
Galaxy S9+
Galaxy S10
Galaxy S10+
Galaxy S10e
Galaxy S20 5G
Galaxy S20 FE
Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
Galaxy S20+ 5G
Galaxy S21 5G
Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Galaxy 21+ 5G
Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Galaxy S22
Galaxy S22 +
Galaxy S22 Ultra
Galaxy S23
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Galaxy S23+
Galaxy Tab Active Pro
Galaxy XCover 4
Galaxy XCover6 Pro
Galaxy Z Flip
Galaxy Z Flip 5G
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Galaxy Z Flip4
Galaxy Z Flip5
Galaxy Z Fold2
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
Galaxy Z Fold4
Galaxy Z Fold5
Xperia X
Xperia XA1
Xperia XA1 Ultra
Xperia XA2
Xperia XA2 Ultra
Xperia XZ2 Compact
TCL 20 Pro 5G
TCL 20s
TCL 30 5G
TCL 30 XE 5G
TCL Flip
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For information on compatible wireless devices offered by your wireless service provider, visit the Wireless section of AlertReady.ca.
Frequently asked questions about emergency alerts
The AMBER Alert is a media communication system used to notify the public when a child is abducted. Authorities provide a description of the child, the suspect, and the means of transportation used so that they can be located as quickly as possible. Learn more about AMBER Alerts.
Wireless service providers are required to distribute Emergency alerts to compatible smartphones that can access LTE networks. Additional wireless devices such as tablets and wearable accessories, like smartwatches, may be capable, from a technical perspective, to receive some form of the message, but it will not necessarily be received on the device in the Alert Ready format.
A compatible wireless device that is turned off, or is in Airplane Mode, will not display an emergency alert. If the emergency alert is still active when the wireless device is powered on, and the user is still in the alert area, the wireless device will then display the alert.
A compatible wireless device that is set to silent will display an emergency alert, but you might not hear the emergency alert sound. The emergency alert sound will usually play at whatever the current volume setting is on the wireless device, so if your wireless device is set to silent, no sound will accompany the emergency alert message. However, this behaviour can differ depending on your wireless device and in some instances the alert sound may override your user settings.
No. emergency alerts received on your compatible wireless device are relevant to you and require immediate attention, and government regulations mandate that all compatible wireless devices receive all relevant alerts.
Unlike radio and television broadcasting, which often has broad areas of coverage; wireless public alerting is geo-targeted and can be very specific to a limited area of coverage. As a result, if an emergency alert reaches your wireless device, you are located in an area where there is an imminent danger.
If you are visually or hearing impaired, know that alerts may be adapted to alternate formats. However, not every alerting authority or every wireless device to which alerts are transmitted have the capacity to produce alternate formats.
For emergency alerts distributed via compatible wireless devices, emergency alerts may be read to the recipient if their device supports this accessibility feature. The vibration feature that accompanies emergency alerts sent to compatible wireless devices will help to make hearing impaired people aware of the alerts.
When receiving the emergency alert it is important to take action safely, especially if the emergency alert is received while operating a vehicle. Stop what you are doing when it is safe to do so and read the emergency alert.
Wireless alerts are sent on a specific cellular channel that is separate from normal text and data traffic. While the alerts may look like text messages, they are not text messages and are not billed like text messages.
If you are travelling, you will only receive emergency alerts that occur where you are. Emergency alerts are issued to a defined geographic area, such that only people in the defined area will receive the emergency alerts.
Canadians can keep track of emergency alerts occurring in specific areas (e.g. where they or other family members live) through a number of available apps and online services.
While on Wi-Fi, if the compatible wireless device can still communicate with the LTE cellular network, it will receive emergency alerts. If the wireless device is not within reach of the LTE cellular network (or is set to Wi-Fi only) it will not receive an emergency alert.
Emergency alerts are broadcast to compatible wireless devices from cell towers and antennas in the area indicated by the issuing authority. Towers and antennas must obviously be in working order to broadcast the alerts.
If you are in an area under alert and the cause of the alert prevents your wireless device from connecting to local towers or antennas, you will not receive the emergency alert on your device.
No. Emergency alerts are sent using Cell Broadcast distribution. Cell Broadcast can only transmit information to your wireless device. This means that no data is being gathered about you, your wireless device or your location when emergency alerts are sent out.
