Released on April 16, 2015
Today, Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter announced that SaskAlert, the province’s new emergency public alerting program, has successfully completed its testing phase and is being implemented across Saskatchewan.“SaskAlert can provide critical information about emergency situations as they are developing so residents of the affected area will be able to take action to protect themselves, their families and property,” Reiter said. “Residents will also be able to receive updates on evolving emergency situations directly from their local television and radio stations, as well as online.”
Alerts may be created for severe weather-related events, such as tornadoes, plow winds, flooding and blizzards. Other events that may trigger an alert include wildfires, spills of hazardous material, train derailments, boil water and shelter-in-place advisories, significant highway closures and community evacuations.
Once an alert has been issued by the SaskAlert program, it will be picked up by provincial media outlets and aired on local radio or television. Alerts can also be viewed on SaskAlert.ca, and The Weather Network website and smartphone app.
“Having provincial broadcasters participate in this program has been incredibly valuable,” Reiter said. “It substantially widens the reach of the SaskAlert. Having a wide variety of options available where residents can receive alerts, whether it is via smartphone, online, television or radio, we are confident that SaskAlert will help keep families and communities informed and prepared in case of emergencies.”
In February, live testing of the SaskAlert program was carried out in communities across southwestern Saskatchewan.
For more information on the SaskAlert or to find active alerts, visit www.SaskAlert.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Jay Teneycke
Government Relations
Regina
Phone: 306-798-6095
Email: jay.teneycke@gov.sk.ca