About emergency alerts

Critical alerts are Broadcast Intrusive alerts sent out when:

• there is a threat to human life
• the threat is immediate – now or in the next hour or less
• there is advice and instructions that can be given to the public to save lives

A Broadcast Intrusive alert distributes to the public by:

• Wireless Public Alert SMS Text
• Alberta Emergency Alert Mobile App
• Radio and Television
• Social Media (such as Facebook, Twitter)
• Road Signage
• RSS Feed

Advisory alerts are Non-Broadcast Intrusive alerts.

An Alberta Emergency Alert (AEA) Authorized User may issue a live Non-Broadcast Intrusive alert using National Public Alerting System (NPAS) if the observed threat is possible but not actual and/or immediate. These alerts advise the public to prepare to take immediate action.

• Live Non-Broadcast Intrusive alerts should only be issued for threats to human life for which advice can be provided to save lives.

Non-Broadcast Intrusive Alerts go out to the public by:

• Alberta Emergency Alert Mobile App
• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter)
• RSS Feed

Twice per year, in November and May, the Alberta Emergency Alert system issues a provincewide test message. These alerts are issued as Broadcast Instrusive.

Test Message alerts distribute to the public through:

• Wireless Public Alert SMS Text
• Alberta Emergency Alert Mobile App
• Radio and Television
• Social Media (such as Facebook, Twitter)
• Road Signage
• RSS Feed

AEMA provides 24/7 support to all Alberta Emergency Alert Authorized Users through a de-centralized model and may issue alerts on behalf of Authorized Users when required on a case-by-case basis.

Municipalities and First Nations Emergency Management organizations have direct access to issue emergency alerts for their communities based on emergencies and disasters occurring that pose immediate threat to the public.

Policing agencies include the RCMP, Municipal and First Nation Police Forces. They issue emergency AMBER Alerts and Civil Emergency Alerts which include Active Assailants.

AMBER alerts

Criteria

Police only activate an AMBER alert if all 4 activation criteria have been met:

1. a child or an adult with a proven mental or physical disability has been abducted
2. the child or adult is in danger of serious harm or death
3. there is enough descriptive information to enable the public to identify the:
   1. child or adult
   2. abductor
   3. mode of transportation
4. there is a reasonable expectation the abductee could be returned, or the abductor could be apprehended

Details

AMBER Alerts may include the following information:

• descriptions – suspect, abductee, vehicles
• abduction details – when, where and how the abduction happened
• locations – the last possible location of the suspect or abductee
• directions – which way the suspect may be traveling

Alberta 511 and Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors is the primary issuer for alerts relating to hazardous road conditions which pose an imminent threat to human life on our provincial roadways.

Environment and Climate Change Canada can issue emergency alerts during severe weather events, including but not limited to:

• tornadoes
• severe thunderstorms