Don’t be alarmed later today when your phone goes off.

A test of the BC Emergency Alert system is happening this afternoon.

It’s actually part of national testing of the Alert Ready system, nationwide.

The test will take place at 1:55PM PST, issued to compatible cellphones and also broadcast on radio and television stations, and will be accompanied by an alert tone.

In advance of the test, some carriers may do silent tests of their systems.

Depending on your phone’s settings, you may receive an early alert message without sound.

If you have an app on your phone that notifies you of emergency information, you may also receive the alert test there.

The national emergency alert system is tested twice a year, when possible. The first test of the year happened in May.

The system is only used during large-scale disasters or life-threatening emergencies.

Alert Ready is tested across Canada following a set testing schedule.

The system was developed with partners including federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers.

For more information, visit Government of British Columbia.