Alert Ready

Alert Ready is Canada’s emergency notification system. It delivers critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians through television, radio and LTE-connected and compatible wireless devices in geo-targeted alert areas. These alerts are issued when there is an immediate threat to life or property and helps ensure that Ontarians have the critical information they need to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families during an emergency.

What Types of Alerts are Broadcast?

Alerts can be sent for the following types of incidents:

  • Civil (AMBER Alert, civil emergency, animal danger, 9-1-1 service)
  • Fire (urban fire, industrial fire, wildfire, forest fire)
  • Biological (biological, chemical, radiological, drinking water contamination)
  • Hazardous (explosive)
  • Environmental (air quality, falling object)
  • Natural (tornado, flash flood, earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, thunderstorm, storm surge, landslide, dam overflow, magnetic storm, meteorite, lahar, pyroclastic flow, pyroclastic surge, volcanic ash)
  • National Security (terrorist threat)
  • Administrative (test message)

How Often are Alerts Broadcast?

In 2023, a total of 1,086 alerts were broadcast across Canada. Ontario received 268 alerts as follows:

  • 2 civil emergencies
  • 2 AMBER alerts
  • 17 thunderstorms
  • 246 tornadoes
  • 1,911 service

Alert Ready Emergency Alert System Testing

The Alert Ready system is tested twice per year in each province. Residents can expect to hear the Alert Ready tone on their cellular phones, radio and/or television as the system is tested.

The 2024 Alert Ready system test dates in Ontario are as follows:

  • Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 12:55 p.m.
  • Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 12:55 p.m.

Further details regarding the Alert Ready Emergency Alert System can be found on the Alert Ready website: https://www.alertready.ca.

Enhanced Community Notification Service (eCNS)

The Enhanced Community Notification Service (eCNS) is an emergency telephone notification service for landline phones. In the event of a major disaster or catastrophe, the service will phone affected households and businesses in the Region of Halton.

eCNS complements the Region’s existing notification system, the Community Emergency Notification Service (CENS). In the event of an emergency, CENS will phone affected households throughout Halton. CENS is one of many ways the Region notifies the public about an emergency situation.

Further details about eCNS and CENS can be found on the Region of Halton’s website:
https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Emergency-Preparedness/Emergency-Alerts-and-Public-Information

Alert Burlington

Alert Burlington is Burlington’s public notification system for community emergencies. Residents and those working in Burlington are encouraged to subscribe to the free community alert service.

When a community emergency is possible or has already happened, important messages will be sent by text, email or recorded phone message to anyone who subscribes and lives or works within the affected area. Messages can also be sent out in various languages.

Additional information and registration details can be found on the City of Burlington’s website:
https://www.burlington.ca/en/fire-and-emergency-services/emergency-notifications.aspx

Contact Information

Cst. Steve Elms #5472
Emergency Planner
Steve.Elms@haltonpolice.ca
905-825-4777 ext. 5267