Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

Saskatoon residents are expected to receive a notifynow test alert on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

notifynow is the City of Saskatoon’s public safety alert program used to notify the public in real-time of a safety situation. The municipal emergency alert system will be tested at 10:00 a.m. as part of Emergency Preparedness Week.

“notifynow alerts are only issued when there is an impending, escalating or occurring emergency situation in the city and immediate action needs to be taken,” explains Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization (EMO). “Testing the system allows us to ensure the system works as expected.”

In the event of an impending or escalating public safety concern, notifynow will send out a message to subscribers. When signing up, subscribers have the option of receiving messages by:

• SMS text message
• Voice call to a landline
• Voice call to a cell phone
• Email

Subscribers can choose one communication method or all of them. 

“We strongly encourage residents to create an account and provide their contact information to receive messages via text, email or phone,” says Goulden-McLeod. “It’s also important for residents to check their profile on notifynow and make sure their information is up to date.”

The national emergency alerting system, Alert Ready, will also be tested Canada-wide on Wednesday, May 7 at 1:55 p.m. The Alert Ready test message will be sent via TV, radio, and compatible wireless devices.

For additional information about Saskatoon’s alert system, visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow.
 

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 4 – 10, 2025) is an annual event held across Canada that encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. This year’s theme, Be Prepared. Know Your Risks. is a reminder that emergencies can happen at any time and being prepared is crucial.

Emergencies can happen unexpectedly. Knowing the risks specific to your area and being prepared can help individuals and communities respond more effectively to emergencies, reduce the risk of injury or harm, and potentially save lives. 

"An emergency can strike at any moment and being prepared can significantly impact our ability to respond," says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Saskatoon EMO. "Emergency Preparedness Week is a great opportunity to review your emergency plan, refresh your emergency kit and familiarize yourself with potential hazards in your community. Taking the time to prepare for potential emergencies not only equips us individually but also builds a stronger, more resilient community that can face challenges together."

Residents and business owners are encouraged to participate in Emergency Preparedness Week by taking the time to:

• Know the risks – Every community can have different risks. What are the risks for your home, your business, and when you are travelling? Knowing the risks and how to respond are part of being prepared.
• Make a plan – Develop an emergency plan tailored to your family or your business/workplace. How will you get in touch with each other? Where is the list of emergency phone numbers? Where do you need to go if you need to evacuate your home or business/workplace?
• Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.
• Follow trustworthy sources – Examples include the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Emergency Management.
• Sign up for notifynow messages – When a public safety concern arises, notifynow sends public safety messages to residents of Saskatoon via telephone, email or text message with important information on what to do, where to go and what to expect.

For additional information about emergency preparedness, visit: saskatoon.ca/emo.