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Tornado? Blizzard? Wildfire? In Saskatchewan, there’s an app for that
Alerts are only issued for emergencies that could harm people or damage property
The Canadian Press on June 30, 2016
Saskatchewan residents have a new way to learn about emergencies such as wildfires, tornadoes, blizzards and evacuations.
The province has launched a new mobile app and website to give people information they need when an emergency strikes.
The SaskAlert app for iPhone and Android operating systems will send a tone and notification directly to people, even when the app is closed. “It will say ‘There’s a problem and here’s what you need to do,’ said emergency management commissioner Duane McKay.
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The website, SaskAlert.ca, will have more specific details on things like evacuation routes or evacuation centres, if necessary.
“It’s just something we noticed last year during wildfires,” McKay said.
“A lot of rumours were swirling around and we really needed to come up with a way to say ‘This is the real information’, so this site will give you verified information and trusted information.”
McKay said that means people can take the right actions to stay safe.
“Right now we can say we have a complete system from start to finish, which we didn’t have last year,” he said.
There was a record wildfire season in Saskatchewan last year with 720 fires that forced about 13,000 people from their homes and burned 17,000 square kilometres of forest.
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Emergency alerts may also be issued for emergencies such as train derailments, plow winds, hazardous material spills, boil water advisories, road closures, or local emergency declarations.
Alerts are only issued for emergencies that could harm people or damage property.
Provincial ministries, Crowns corporations and agencies, as well as Environment Canada and municipalities that have undergone training with the province can issue emergency alerts. About one-third of communities in the province have signed up so far, according to McKay.
People can opt to receive emergency alerts for the entire province, for a particular community, for multiple communities or for nearby areas when they’re travelling across Saskatchewan.
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Tornado? Blizzard? Wildfire? In Saskatchewan, there’s an app for that
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