PORT HARDY—If you live on Tsulquate Reserve or certain parts of Port Hardy, you may be startled by a series of loud warning announcements early next week.
Not to worry — it’s just a test.
The Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw First Nations have completed installation of a new emergency warning system, and plan to run the first test of the system either Tuesday or Wednesday, Feb. 4 or 5, local emergency coordinator Bob Swain said.
The system, a response to the evacuation following an earthquake and tsunami alert in October 2012, involves a loudspeaker atop a pole. It was installed by K&K Electric of Port Hardy last week.
The loudspeaker will not broadcast a traditional siren sound; rather, the system is made up of a series of pre-recorded messages, including a test alert, an emergency stand-by notification, an evacuation order and an all-clear.