Table of contents

Emergency alert test

The emergency alert system is tested twice a year.

Use these tests for practice so you are ready for an emergency. Test alerts:

  • make sure the emergency alert system works
  • are a reminder for Albertans to be ready for a real emergency

Emergency alerts are sent out by:

Learn more about wireless alerting and the emergency alert test at Alert Ready. 

Teach with the test alert

Use the test alert to teach your community about being ready for an emergency:

  • share this short video about how to use emergency alert tests as a teaching tool
  • have an event on March 1st about being prepared and invite local media
  • download the Alberta Emergency Test Alert Toolkit and use it to start talking about what preparedness – or being ready - means
  • use the test alert as a signal to start an emergency drill
  • print and hand out these emergency kit checklists to start talking about preparedness and being ready in your community

Tips to follow year round

Being ready for an emergency is called emergency preparedness.

Use and share the resources on this page to:

  • get you and your family ready for an emergency

  • teach your community about emergency preparedness

Here are some tips for making emergency preparedness part of your routine.

Start a conversation

Start the conversation with those around you. Talking about emergencies often leads to action and can be the first step in making your emergency plan. For tips on how to bring preparedness into everyday conversations check out this podcast.

Know the risks

Know your risk to the hazards in your community so you can plan for them.

Make a plan

Disasters often cause confusion and distress. An emergency plan can help you cope with the stress and navigate the situation better. Create an emergency plan that works for you and your family.

Get informed

Get informed by signing up to your local emergency warning system and through identification of trusted sources of information before an emergency occurs. Download the Alberta Emergency Alert app

Build a kit and gather supplies

Build an emergency kit and gather supplies, including water, non-perishable snacks and a battery or crank-powered radio in case of power outages. Your goal will be to have enough supplies to keep you safe, warm and comfortable.

Create financial resilience

Being financially prepared is about more than just having money in the bank. Having the right insurance for your property and belongings can reduce financial hardship and your recovery time.

Make connections

Building relationships with the people around you can reduce stress and create community resilience. Neighbours are often nearby when an emergency, disaster or unexpected situations occur. Knowing your neighbours makes it easier to ask for help when you need it, or offer help to those who need it most.

Updates

To receive regular updates on new programming join the Resilience Builders Network by sending an email to [email protected].

Videos

The 'Get Prepared: 60 Second Emergency Tips' video series delivers simple steps that anyone can take to become better prepared for an emergency or disaster.

Take a minute today to learn about what you can do to become better prepared, and share the videos online and within your community.

To view the video in full screen, click on the title of the video or the YouTube icon.

How to prepare for extreme heat

Learn about extreme heat events and how to protect yourself and others.

How can you prepare for winter driving?

Cold, snow and ice can make winter driving dangerous. Learn how you can prepare for road conditions in the winter months.

How can you prepare for extreme cold?

Learn how to stay safe when the temperature drops below -40°C or wind chill makes it feel that cold.

How can you prepare for an outage?

A power or water outage can create dangerous situations. Learn steps you can take to become better prepared.

How can you be prepared before an emergency?

Emergencies affect us all differently and help is not always available in the way we expect. Learn what steps you can take to ensure your needs are met when it matters most.

What can you do during an emergency to stay safe?

Protecting yourself and your loved ones will depend on the hazard, but these tips can help you manage emergencies and disasters safely.

What can you do to help you recover after an emergency?

Being prepared can help speed up your recovery time so you can get back to your life and work sooner.

How can you prepare to evacuate?

Authorities may evacuate your community if lives are at risk. Learn how to plan for an evacuation alert or evacuation order.

Why should you have an emergency kit?

Unexpected situations can happen to any of us. Having an emergency kit is one step to being more prepared.

How does knowing your community help you become more prepared?

Knowing your neighbours makes it easier to ask for help when you need it most. Learn ways to safely connect with your community.

More videos on being prepared

Checklists and translations

Use the following checklists to build specific emergency kits. Translated versions are also available in українською (Ukrainian), عربي (Arabic), 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese), 繁體中文 (Traditional Chinese), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi), Deutsch (High German), Plautdietsch (Low German), Español (Spanish), Français (French) and Tagalog (Tagalog).

Fact sheets

Helpful materials you can read, download, print and share online and within your community. Translated versions are also available in українською (Ukrainian), عربي (Arabic), 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese), 繁體中文 (Traditional Chinese), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi), Deutsch (High German), Plautdietsch (Low German), Español (Spanish), Français (French) and Tagalog (Tagalog).

Toolkits

  • Emergency Test Alert – Toolkit

    A toolkit designed to help educators use the test alert as a teaching moment in classrooms (available in French and English ). The selection of quick activities complements the bi-annual test of our emergency alerting system.

  • For seniors

    Download the Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for Seniors for a package of materials to help improve seniors preparedness. This toolkit can help seniors, or those who care for them, be better prepared to navigate emergencies, disasters and unexpected situations.

  • For Emergency Preparedness Week

    The Emergency Preparedness Week Toolkit was created to support the efforts of Alberta’s community leaders during Emergency Preparedness Week in raising awareness on the importance of personal preparedness.

    Although the toolkit is built to support the Emergency Preparedness Week campaign, the resources in this toolkit can be used any time of year.

  • Occupational health and safety toolkit

    The Emergency response planning: An occupational health and safety tool kit provides employers with information about some key occupational health and safety requirements related to emergency response planning. The kit also provides a step-by-step approach to planning, that employers can customize to their own work site.

QR code posters

This is a touch-free way to share preparedness information to community members through their smartphone.

The posters use an embedded QR code you scan with your phone’s camera app to display micro lesson videos or other online content directly on your device.

Download, print and display the posters to encourage your community members to take small steps towards becoming more prepared.

Infographics

These infographics provide preparedness information in an easy to understand format.

Download and share these infographics with your community through communication channels available to you – online, email, and newsletters.

Social media

#BePrepared

Become a champion of the #BePrepared challenge in your community.

Send us an email at [email protected] to receive 8 weeks of preparedness messages that you can copy, edit and share with your communities as you see fit.

#PrepareYourSelfie

The #PrepareYourSelfie challenge uses social media to help you become better prepared. You can share what you did to become more prepared with others through the #PrepareYourSelfie hashtag. Use the hashtag to create conversations with your community, invite local leaders to share the message and challenge businesses and neighbouring communities to #PrepareYourSelfie too.

Send us an email at [email protected] to receive information to support your #PrepareYourSelfie challenge.

Other hashtags

#ReadyforAnything

#Preparedness

#ThisIsPreparedness

#EmergencyPreparedness

Contact

Connect with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-9000
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Connect with one of our regional offices, visit AEMA regional offices.

Related

Hazard preparedness

Build an emergency kit

Make an emergency plan

Emergency management consultations and events

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