Montreal testing public warning sirens on May 6: here’s what to know

Emergency sirens (Credit: City of Montreal)

Montreal residents are being advised that the public warning sirens will be tested on May 6.

The sirens are meant to alert the public about a real-life threat in the event of the release of toxic hazardous materials in areas close to certain industrial buildings and warehouses.

The City of Montreal said the annual exercise on May 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be a simulation in order to make people who live nearby familiar with the public alert and to test the functioning of the warning system.

Participating industrial facilities will sound their sirens according to a predetermined schedule, emitting a rising and falling tone lasting about three minutes in the potential exposure radius.

• Listen to the sound of the warning siren in the video below.

What to do in a real emergency

The city said in the event of an actual emergency, the siren tone would be followed by the broadcast of messages over social media channels, the city’s notice and alerts system, civil protection automated call service, the Québec En Alerte messaging system, as well as official press releases.

In a real emergency, people should take the following steps:

• Do not stay outdoors. Seek shelter inside the nearest building;
• Close doors, windows, and ventilation systems;
• Leave children at daycare or school to avoid exposure to a toxic substance;
• Only use 911 to report an emergency;
• Follow the instructions from authorities.

Residents can sign up to receive notices and alerts during emergency situations by visiting the City of Montreal’s website. The list of participating facilities and the schedule for the siren tests is also available on montreal.ca.