Warning System Steps Into 21 Century

A few weeks ago I posted a blog about the the Thorhild fire and my frustration in trying to get updates on the status of the fire on the Internet.

We had been listening to CKUA radio when we heard the alert – at the same time as we saw the fire from the highway en route to our country retreat. We don’t have a telephone, tv, or radio at our “lodge” (by choice) and so our only source of information was via the Internet through my Blackberry. I wasn’t able to get any updates on the fire – which was disconcerting to say the least as the fire was in the next county (to our place) and we could see the smoke blowing directly toward us (photo below).

I was delighted to read today in the newspaper that Alberta is going to make improvements to the emergency warning system to reach people through their cellphones, the Internet and other modern technology.

The Alberta Emergency Public Warning system is the only province-wide public warning system in Canada. It partners with the media to alert people of severe weather, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters and other emergencies.

The media report said young people may not be tuned into “traditional media” as much as their parents so they needed to look at other ways to alert people.

Well, clearly it’s not just young people! In this wireless world we live in, new ways of communicating are necessary – period.

The latest news about Alberta’s Emergency Public Warning system is most encouraging.