We have the cell phone emergency system in place, and during the first test there were many phones that did not sound the alarm. Once reported, the authorities were able to find out why are correct the issue. They had another test a few months later with better results. It was found certain cell phone companies didn't have the proper technology to receive or transmit the alarm.
A few tests later, all is working fine, and we have had no alarms since. Apparently it was used 7 times provincially last year, for fire, flood, and civil emergency (not sure what the incidences were).
The test is useful in my mind. The alarm can be sounded regionally, using certain cell towers in a radius of a disaster. If there was a derailment of a train, for example, and fears the smoke was toxic, they could warn people in the area to move to safety very quickly.
