A routine test of British Columbia’s Emergency Alert system will take place at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, as part of a national effort to ensure public alerting remains reliable and effective during life-safety emergencies.
The test message will be broadcast on radio and television and sent to all compatible cellphones connected to an LTE network. The alert will be clearly identified as a test and will not require any action from the public. These semi-annual tests help confirm that the alerting infrastructure is functioning as intended while giving people a preview of what an actual emergency notification looks and sounds like.
BC Emergency Alerts are issued for hazards such as tsunamis, floods, wildfires and extreme heat. Environment and Climate Change Canada handles alerts for tornadoes, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and storm surges, while police issue Amber Alerts and civil emergency warnings.
Since 2024, the federal Earthquake Early Warning system has also been active in B.C., automatically sending alerts when strong shaking is expected, providing crucial seconds of advance notice.
After the test, residents are encouraged to complete a short online survey administered by Public Emergency Alerting Services Inc. to help determine the reach of the alert.
