Alerts

Emergency Preparedness

A disaster is an event resulting in serious harm to the safety, health or welfare of people or widespread damage to properties, and these can happen anywhere, anytime. The Town of Okotoks Protective Services, combined with other Town departments and provincial and federal agencies, will provide a prompt and coordinated response to a disaster affecting the citizens of Okotoks.
 
The Town of Okotoks has programs and services in place in order to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all potential hazards including natural disasters and technological or human-caused incidents. Residents can do their part to ensure they are prepared for an emergency, not only within their home but also within their business.
 
This guide is an easy-to-understand information on home and personal emergency preparedness to help Okotokians better protect themselves, family members and neighbours. 

Alberta Emergency Alert Logo

Alberta Emergency Alert has replaced the Safe Communities Network (SCAN) for local emergency notifications in Okotoks - sign up for alerts

Any local Town impacted alerts that provide information on developing emergencies or serious alerts from other areas will be delivered to you via the Alberta Emergency Alert app, the Alberta Emergency Alert website, and the Town social media accounts

About the Alberta Emergency Alert

Alberta Emergency Alert is an alerting system available in Alberta that provides critical information about developing and immediate disasters. Alerts are distributed through various means: radio, television, websites, Twitter, Facebook and the Alberta Emergency Alert App.

This is a provincial alert tool that is used by the Provincial government and various municipalities to communicate about emergencies. 

Why download the app?

  • Download and install the app and then sign-up for emergency alerts from every region in Alberta or for regions that you choose.
  • If an alert is issued a message will be sent to your phone.
  • There are two categories of alerts: critical or information. Critical alerts are for imminent and life-threatening danger, such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes or Amber Alerts. Information alerts are for awareness and to encourage preparation for events such as severe storms, traffic disruption or air quality warnings.
  • The Alberta Emergency Alert App allows you to decide the alert tone and the region(s) in Alberta you can receive alerts from.

Setting up the app

Residents must download the mobile app to receive alerts through AEA in order to receive emergency notifications.

  • Once the app has been downloaded and installed:
    • Ensure you setup emergency alerts for the Okotoks area 
    • Ensure you turn-on Critical and Advisory alerts. If these are not turned on, you will not receive alerts from the Town

AEA setup guide

What’s the difference between a critical alert and an advisory alert?

  • Critical alerts are for imminent and life-threatening danger, such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes or Amber Alerts.
  • Advisory alerts are for less urgent information and to prepare the public for potential emergency events related to their property and/or the environment such as severe storms or water quality warnings. 

 

RESOURCES

Government of Alberta Fact Sheet: Alert Ready & Alberta Emergency Alert

Frequently Asked Questions - Alberta Emergency Management Agency

Alert Ready Logo

 

 

 

 

 

Are You Alert Ready?

Urgent public safety messages for local emergencies now come directly to your compatible smartphone.

The national wireless public alerting system, Alert Ready, marks a significant change to the way the public will receive alert messages. The short alert message you receive on your phone will be the first indication of a serious emergency event and compliments other alert distribution methods such as radio/TV and social media. 

The Government of Canada requires that all compatible wireless devices receive all relevant alerts. You are not able to opt-out. You will only receive alerts if you are in the impacted area. If you are travelling and are in a region that is affected, you will also receive that alert.

IS MY SMARTPHONE COMPATIBLE? 

To receive alerts, the wireless device must be:

  • A wireless public alerting (WPA) compatible device, like a smartphone, capable of connecting to an LTE network (LTE is commonly referred to as “4G LTE”)
  • Equipped with the latest version of its operating software
  • Connected to an LTE cellular network at the time the emergency alert is issued or joins the network while the alert is still active.

To find out if your smartphone is compatible and to read some Frequently Asked Questions from your specific provider, visit alertready.ca and select your Wireless Carrier. 

HOW DOES THIS WORK WITH ALBERTA EMERGENCY ALERT?

Only the most serious alerts will be sent out using the new wireless alerting system. Other alerts that provide information on developing emergencies or serious alerts from other areas will be delivered to you via the Alberta Emergency Alert app, social media and the Alberta Emergency Alert website.

It is important that you continue to use the Alberta Emergency Alert app as it is complementary to the new wireless alerting system. The new wireless alert will provide you with a short message, and the Alberta Emergency Alert app will provide more details and a map. 

RESOURCES

Government of Alberta Fact Sheet: Alert Ready & Alberta Emergency Alert

Frequently Asked Questions - Alberta Emergency Management Agency

Are you prepared?

What do you do if an emergency occurs?

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