Sask-wide emergency alert was 'unintentional,' town says
CTV
An emergency alert concerning drinking water in Maple Creek sent to phones across Saskatchewan Tuesday afternoon was a mistake.
An emergency alert concerning drinking water in Maple Creek sent to phones across Saskatchewan Tuesday afternoon was unintentional.
According to Maple Creek’s Economic Development Officer, Gillian LaBoucane, town officials intended for the alert – related to a broken water main – only for people in and around Maple Creek.
The selection of a certain option on the Sask. Alert software led to the advisory having a much wider reach than anyone expected.
“As soon as you select drinking water, it puts it as a broadcast alert. We decided to do a wireless broadcast alert because then anybody with a cellphone will get it,” she explained.
“We didn’t actually realize it would go to the entire province.”
As for the town’s water supply – the main break led to the depressurization of the town’s water system.
The break has been repaired and water service is back up and running for the majority of residents – with the exception of the block where the break occurred.
