Discussions

I hear this low pitch sonic alert on Wednesday afternoons around say 4 pm.  
 
I am not sure what it is for: why there is not an advertisement out in Brandon regarding this public safety feature. I went for more information to the B.E.S.T website: did find the alert and all clear tone, but nothing on public notifications via cell phone.  
 
I want to know why there is not cell phone text alert linked to the system. It would be a very good idea to have a text based reporting system for the hearing impaired.  
 
Maybe there is one on the local tv stations? There was supposed to be a Federal Alert Ready test, but that did not show up on my cell as notification.

This test alarm has been going for roughly 10 years now. And no, it's not connected to the cell phone alerts. Before every test, it's announced in the media that it will be happening.

The Brandon Emergency Support Team BEST is a public private partnership that has installed a modern siren system across Brandon. It has been in place for about a decade which shows Brandon has been taking public notification seriously. It is locally controlled and it has a voce message capability as well for local information in an emergency.  
 
The text based warning system has also been a long time coming owing to technical and commercial issues between the federal and provincial governments and the telecom industry. The tests held across the country earlier this year revealed problems that are now being worked on. It will be a provincial system that will complement what Brandon is doing locally.  
 
Canada has not had a national emergency broadcast system like the US until now. This is because the federal and provincial governments don't invest in disaster management the way the US has in the past - not to say FEMA and the rest of the US system is perfect but it is better funded on a per capita basis.  
 
In the end it comes down to individual and local preparedness. Warning systems are only as good as the knowledge and readiness of the public to act appropriately when the warning is issued. So talk to your family and neighbours about what to do in an emergency and share that responsibility.

at least you heard it, I still never have heard it and I live in South Center.

What area are you in? I've never heard such a tone.  
 
The cell phone alerts and radio/tv alerts are sent out by the Alert Ready national system (alertready.ca) and not locally. The provincial Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) might also have the ability to trigger an alert on this system.  
 
I'm not aware of any local (or other) test occuring every Wed at the time you posted.

SpclNeedsDad said "What area are you in? I've never heard such a tone.     The cell phone alerts and radio/tv alerts are sent out by the Alert Ready national system (alertready.ca) and not locally. The provincial Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) might also have the ability to trigger an alert on this system.     I'm not aware of any local (or other) test occuring every Wed at the time you posted. "

although I have never heard it - there is a test alarm every month, the first Wed (I believe), around four o''''clock. by the City of Brandon emergency.  
 
it has been going on for a few years.  
 

The siren test occurs on the 1st Wed of the month and includes an Alert Tone followed by an All Clear chime. #BdnMb https://t.co/XIYpte3Jb8

&mdash: City of Brandon (@CityBrandon) October 7, 2015

 
 
Edited by Brenda.., 2018-06-16 20:13:10