Northeast Region Community Awareness Emergency Response (NRCAER) is in the final stages of installing dynamic message signs throughout the industrial heartland.
Emergency alerts, major collisions, Amber Alerts, natural disasters, and more will be displayed on the signs.
The project was announced in 2019 during the Lamont Life in the Heartland community information meeting, but it was delayed due to COVID-19 and other obstacles. Now, the signs are in the ground and will be fully installed and operational later this summer.
“We know that there’s a lot of traffic that comes through the region every day, and a number of people don’t live here, so it’s not like they would be signing up for the Fort Saskatchewan Alerts,” explained Brenda Gheran, executive director of NRCAER.
“It was always a gap we wanted to see filled, so we worked with Alberta Transport to make that a reality.”
NRCAER funded the initial capital investment of $700,000. Once the signs are operational, they will become part of Alberta Transportation’s network in partnership with NRCAER. Signs will be located around NRCAER’s coverage area, including one near Redwater, a few in Strathcona and Sturgeon County, and a sign you may have noticed that is waiting to be installed on Highway 21.
A set date has not yet been announced for when the signs will be operational.
NRCAER provides resources to municipalities and industries in the event of an emergency. They've also been an advocate for community safety. They implemented a community notification line in 2003, which residents can call to get up-to-date information on anything going on in the area. The community notification 24/7 update line is 1-866-653-9959.