November 17, 2025
RED FM News Desk
To ensure public safety in the event of an emergency, the BC Emergency Alert system will undergo a province-wide test on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 1:55 p.m. (Pacific time).
The test alert is designed to interrupt radio and television broadcasts and will be sent to all compatible cellphones. The message will be clearly marked as a TEST and requires no action from the public.
The text message sent to cellphones will read: “This is a TEST of the BC Emergency Alert System issued by the Province of British Columbia. This is ONLY a TEST. In an emergency, this message would tell you about the hazard and how to stay safe. This information could save your life. Visit https://www.emergencyinfobc.ca/test to learn more and give feedback on this test. This is ONLY a TEST.”
The exercise is part of a national test of the National Public Alerting System, a collaborative effort involving federal, provincial, and territorial governments, along with industry partners. Testing occurs twice a year in British Columbia to improve public awareness, demonstrate what to expect during a real emergency, and allow for system adjustments.
BC Emergency Alerts are a crucial tool for delivering timely, life-saving information about imminent threats. The Province uses the system to warn of threats such as Tsunami, Flood, Wildfire and Extreme-heat emergencies.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is responsible for issuing alerts related to severe weather like tornados, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, and storm surges. Police agencies issue alerts for civil emergencies and Amber Alerts.
Additionally, the Earthquake Early Warning system, launched by the federal government in British Columbia in 2024, is integrated with the alert system. If a specific threshold is met, this system automatically sends an intrusive alert message to cellphones in the expected affected area before strong shaking is felt, providing valuable seconds for protection.
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