Police, fire and EMS crews converge on Hawrelak for Get Ready in the Park

This week, millions of Canadians received an emergency test alert on their mobile phones, but then again, millionsdid not.

"That's why we test,"said Rob Squire, Edmonton deputy fire chief ofplanning and the office of emergency management.

"That's the purpose of a test. Let's find out what the bugs are, where the rub points are, and let's come up with a solution."

'One of our risks is severe weather'

6 years ago

Duration 1:50

When it comes to emergencies we all could be better prepared, says Rob Squire, Edmonton's deputy fire chief. He also introduces us to a new high-tech warning system.

Squire believes the alarm and text messagereceived by your phone will transform how citizens react to an emergency warning.

"Everybody who has a phone connected to an LTE network in a specific area will receive the alert," Squire said.

"I've read some studies where they say up to 95 per cent of people are within arms length of a cell phone at all times."

• Alert Ready to send emergency messages to smartphones
• Glitches reported as emergency alert testing resumes across Canada

The test took place during Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada, a week that Squires will cap off with Get Ready in the Park atHawrelak Park on Saturday.

The 11th annual event will feature70 first-response agencies in a free, family-friendly event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Fire trucks, police cars, helicopters, you name it, it will be here,"Squire said.

"It's also a chance for people to take a pause and reflect upon how they would cope with their families and their pets in the event there was a disruption in their day-to-day lives."

You can see more from Hawrelak Park this week on Our Edmonton on Saturday at 10 a.m. Sunday at noon and Monday at 11 a.m. on CBC TV.