Emergency messages are coming to your cell phone

Beginning today, messages about life-threatening emergencies, such as tornadoes or Amber alerts for missing children, will now show up on your cellphone.

Ontario and Quebec are testing the addition of smartphones to the Alert Ready system today (at 1:55 p.m.)  

"You're going to hear a tone alert on your phone, if you have a compatible wireless device," Dave O'Brien, the head of corporate security and emergency management for the city of London told CBC's London Morning program.

The same message will be broadcast over radio and television, as has been the case for several years now.

London's city-wide system

On Wednesday at 10:55 a.m., London will test its own city-wide notification system.

"It will actually be a phone call to you advising that there's an emergency. In this case it's a test, but if it were a real emergency it would tell you very specific information about that incident," O'Brien said.

In this case it's a test, bit if it were a real emergency it would tell you very specific information about that incident,- Dave O'Brien

London's notification system will send a message to 190,000 conventional residential and business phones but only cell phone users who have registered for the service will receive messages on their devices. And mobile users can choose to receive either a phone call or a text message. Conventional phone users will automatically receive a phone call.

You can register here. 

The tests coincide with Emergency Preparedness Week across the country.

Emergency scenarios tested

O'Brien said the city tests its response to emergency scenarios such as train derailments, plane crashes and tornadoes several times throughout the year.

He said many things are learned particularly around communication with the response team and how they co-ordinate their efforts to avoid duplication. The goal is to ensure that victims with the most critical needs are dealt with first and others after that.

O'Brien said Londoners play an important role in planning for emergencies. He recommends everyone have an emergency kit at home and an emergency plan.

He said this year's theme is staying informed, staying connected.