INFORMATION BULLETIN
For Immediate Release 2009PSSG0033-000511 March 25, 2009	Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
PROVINCE COMPLETES TEST OF TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

 

VICTORIA – The Provincial Emergency Program has successfully completed its test of the B.C. Provincial Emergency Notification System (PENS).

 

In total, more than 1,100 calls were made using the state-of-the-art phone notification system to local governments, local emergency officials, police and fire departments, federal and provincial ministries, First Nations, utilities, regional health authorities and the media. In addition, approximately 300 email notifications were sent to these same stakeholders.

 

These tests are run on a regular basis to verify the system’s capabilities to send timely tsunami bulletins to coastal communities at risk, key stakeholders and the news media. The media is a key partner in getting critical information to the public during emergency situations.

 

The monitoring of potential tsunamis is done by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, located in Palmer, Alaska. In the event of a potential tsunami event, this organization immediately notifies the Provincial Emergency Program, which then activates PENS. Local authorities are required to have community emergency response plans that they will activate in the event of a tsunami.

 

Tsunami background information is available at Provincial Emergency Program website at www.pep.bc.ca. 

 

 

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Media contact:	Susan Williams Senior Public Affairs Officer Provincial Emergency Program 250 952-4846
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.