Emergency Alert Notifications

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• Do I have to pay to receive Alertable notifications?

  No, regardless of the method you choose to receive notifications (app, text, phone notifications, etc.) this alert notification service is free to all users.

• When setting up the app, should I turn on ‘Follow Me’?

  By turning on ‘Follow Me’, you will receive (Alertable) emergency notifications that are happening in the geographical location that you (your phone) is visiting, even when you are away from the North Okanagan communities you selected.

  Note: Only notifications from communities that use the Alertable system can be received through the Alertable app.

• If I am physically located within Vernon, will I receive alerts from areas outside of the municipal boundary?

  If you have not selected other locations, you will not receive alerts for them.

• What if I don't sign up?

  You will only receive notifications if you sign up for this service; however, information will still be available from your local emergency program through this website and local media coverage. 

  We encourage you to sign up for alert notifications and to follow the City of Vernon on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using the handle @CityofVernon. 

• Will my contact information be shared?

  No. The information provided is confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.

• Why am I receiving notifications from agencies like Environment Canada and DriveBC? Can I turn these off?

  Environment Canada and DriveBC both use Alertable to issue alerts. If they issue an alert that includes the geographic location you have selected (i.e. 1 or more of the North Okanagan municipalities) you will receive it. If you would prefer not to receive these alerts, turn them off in 1 of 3 ways:

  1. Turn off the ‘Advisory’ Sound Alert: In the Alertable app, under ‘Settings’, ensure you have turned OFF the ‘Advisory Alert Sound’. By turning off ‘Advisory Alert Sound’ you will receive the advisory, but there will be no sound interruption, and you can look at it at your leisure (or not at all!) Note that you will continue to receive a sound interruption for anything categorized as ‘critical’.

  OR

  2. Only Receive ‘Critical’ Alerts, not ‘Advisories’: Also under ‘Settings’ of the App, click that you wish to receive ‘Critical’ alerts, not ‘Critical and Advisory alerts’. This will ensure you no longer receive ‘advisory’ alerts (including advisories from the City of Vernon). 

  OR

  3. Turn off Advisories of a specific nature (i.e. Weather): Go to ‘Advanced Advisory Settings’ (also in Settings) and turn off unwanted alert categories. For example, turn off ‘Transportation’ to stop receiving highway advisories from Drive BC, or ‘Weather’ to stop receiving advisories from Environment Canada.
• I no longer want to receive email alerts; how do I stop them?

  To unsubscribe from receiving email alerts, click here and follow these steps:

  • Click the blue 'Existing Subscriber' bar that appears
  • enter your email address (do not enter your phone number)
  • an access code will then immediately be sent to your email address; enter this access code into the input screen on the City of Vernon website
  • following the prompts on the input screen, you can change your information or close your account
• I no longer want to receive phone alerts; how do I stop them?

  To unsubscribe from receiving alerts on your phone, click here and follow these steps:

  • click on the blue 'Existing Subscriber' bar that appears
  • enter the phone number you used to sign up (do not enter your email address)
  • an access code will then immediately be sent to your phone; enter this access code into the input screen on the City of Vernon website
  • following the prompts on the input screen, you can change your information or close your account
• Are Alertable and ‘Alert Ready’ the same thing?

  No. ‘Alert Ready’ is a Canada-wide system that allows government officials in each province and territory to issue emergency alerts through compatible wireless devices and major television and radio broadcasters. You do not subscribe to Alert Ready; alerts will be broadcast without a subscription and at no cost to ensure the maximum number of people receive alerts. In British Columbia, Alert Ready may be used in the event of a potential wildfire, flood, tsunami, tornado and severe thunderstorm, Amber Alert, or civil emergency. For additional information on Alert Ready, visit here.