A tsunami alarm blasted from CFB EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 mass notification system yesterday had some Macaulay Elementary students in tears.
The naval base issued a public service announcement Thursday morning saying they would use the mass notification system Oct. 19 at 10:20 a.m with a siren that sounds like an emergency vehicle, lasting approximately one minute. A message signifying it as part of the provincewide Great British Columbia ShakeOut earthquake drill was to follow.
But the wrong message was broadcast, causing confusion and fear at the nearby school.
The children were outside at recess when they heard the siren followed by the message: B次元官网网址淭sunami warning. Head to higher ground. This is not a drill,B次元官网网址� according to Karen MacEwan, principal at the elementary school.
B次元官网网址淭he children and the adults were very surprised, and the children went into panic,B次元官网网址� MacEwan said. B次元官网网址淲e had children in tears. Children that were very upset, that needed a lot of comforting.
B次元官网网址淲e had 460 students streaming into the school. The teachers flew out of the staff room and went into help mode. They immediately went to their classrooms, started counting students, making sure everybody was here.B次元官网网址�
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Teachers and staff went to her office to find out if the alarm was real, as they knew the earthquake drill was scheduled. But it was the wording of the message following the alarm that was unexpected, said MacEwan, who was also shaken up.
B次元官网网址淭here was a part of me that thought this must still be a drill because it is 10:19 on the B.C. ShakeOut Day, so how could it be anything else. But my training, in all my years as an educator, tells me we donB次元官网网址檛 ever say B次元官网网址榯his is not a drillB次元官网网址� unless itB次元官网网址檚 not,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢y heart was pounding.B次元官网网址�
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Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said confusion around yesterdayB次元官网网址檚 alarm suggests the city and residents take a closer look at how they respond in emergency situations.
B次元官网网址淢any of our residents use that siren as one of the ways to know there is an emergency,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that the notification system is meant for the base and not the public.
Desjardins said a presentation from Royal Roads masters students about EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 emergency preparedness was already on next MondayB次元官网网址檚 council agenda, and after yesterday, the need to be prepared is clear.
B次元官网网址淗aving had the siren go off yesterday, having had some reaction to itB次元官网网址� confusion around it, I think itB次元官网网址檚 just very timely along with this study that weB次元官网网址檝e got so council and staff can really look at what are other steps we need to do to make sure people are prepared for emergencies.B次元官网网址�
Base commander Capt. Jason Boyd said in a tweet yesterday that the siren was part of the B.C. ShakeOut drill, but the wrong message was broadcast.
It was a technical error and we are deeply sorry for the confusion and inconvenience
B次元官网网址� Capt (N) Jason Boyd (@MayorCFBEsq)
CFB Esquimalt also issued an apology for the message on their Facebook page.
B次元官网网址淭hank you for your patience, we apologize for the statement saying B次元官网网址淭his is not a drillB次元官网网址� that was a technical error and there was no real emergency,B次元官网网址� it read. B次元官网网址淲e participated in the Great BC Shakeout this morning which resulted in the sirens and announcements that were heard.B次元官网网址�
You can listen to the CFB Esquimalt siren .
