The Strathcona Regional District will be sending a test alert tonight to the West Coast of Vancouver Island Tsunami Warning subscriber list.

Subscribers to Alertable - the SRDs free emergency notification system - are scheduled to receive the test alert at 7pm tonight.

The goal is to increase public awareness about the system and spark emergency preparedness conversations, so that everyone can be ready and prepared in the event of an actual Tsunami Warning.

It’s also to ensure the system is operating as intended while allowing SRD Emergency Program staff to practice sending alerts to the public.

If you’d like to subscribe, visit Alertable.

The district says Alertable will likely only be used in the event of a distant tsunami that is generated from an area such as Alaska. If a very long earthquake occurs close to our coast (20 seconds or longer), there will be no time for an official warning to be issued, so learning about and recognizing the natural warning signs of a tsunami is your safest bet.