AlertReady test and other activities planned for Emergency Preparedness Week

Update May 9, 2023:

Tomorrow's planned test of the AlertReady emergency alerting system is CANCELLED. This is to avoid causing confusion due to the ongoing flooding in the Dawson region.

Other planned activities for Emergency Preparedness Week continue as usual.
Read more here: https://yukon.ca/en/get-involved-emergency-preparedness-week

Sunday, May 7, 2023 is the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Week, and the Government of Yukon is marking the occasion with a series of awareness and educational activities to help Yukoners be ready for flood and fire season.

Emergency preparedness is a collaborative effort between all members of the community. It starts with every individual long before an emergency occurs. This week is a great opportunity for Yukoners to consider whether they are prepared for emergencies and how they can contribute to wildfire-resilient Yukon communities.

This weekend, many Yukon communities are planning events for Community Wildfire Preparedness Day. Community associations in Mt. Lorne, Spruce Hill, Pine Ridge and Mary Lake will be holding FireSmart barbecues with funding support from FireSmart Canada and the Government of Yukon.

On Wednesday, May 10 at 1:55 pm, the Emergency Measures Organization will issue a test of the AlertReady emergency alerting system over wireless devices, radios and televisions across the territory. Yukoners should receive an alert on their mobile devices. The alert will clearly state that it is a test.

For a full list of activities, people can visit www.Yukon.ca/ep-week or follow along on the Yukon Protective Services Facebook page. Yukoners are encouraged to participate in one of the planned activities or to visit www.PreparedYukon.ca to learn how to prepare for all hazards.

Planned activities

Sunday, May 7 from 12 to 3 pm: Emergency Preparedness and FireSmart event, Mount Lorne Community Centre

• Drop-in event hosted by the Lorne Mountain Community Association, in cooperation with the Mount Lorne Volunteer Fire Department and the Government of Yukon.

Tuesday, May 9 at 7 pm: Community wildfire safety presentation, Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre

• FireSmart co-founder Alan Westhaver will give a free public presentation hosted by the Wildfire Awareness Society, the Copper Ridge Neighbourhood Association and the Government of Yukon.

Wednesday, May 10 at 1:55 pm: AlertReady emergency alerting system test

• The Emergency Measures Organization will be issuing a test of the AlertReady emergency alerting system at approximately 1:55 pm.
• The test will be broadcast on wireless devices, radio and televisions across the territory.

Thursday May 11 from noon to 1 pm: Preparing for emergencies in the Yukon, virtual workshop

• Yukoners will learn how to prepare for different types of emergencies directly from the experts at Yukon Protective Services in this one-hour virtual Zoom session.
• Register in advance for this session: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMuc-GtrT8uHdfMKFR9YpNZWjPAiQ-_zclj   
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the meeting.

Sunday, May 7 to Saturday, May 13: Follow Yukon Protective Services on Facebook 

• Yukon Protective Services will be sharing emergency preparedness tips all week long on Facebook.
• Learn simple steps Yukoners can take to prepare their household for all hazards, and how to prepare for specific types of emergencies such as wildfires and floods.