BARRIE, ONT. -- Some residents and visitors of the Muskoka region can expect to get a new alert to their cell phones around 2 p.m. on Thursday as local first responders test out a new emergency system app. Today, July 29th at 2pm, The Muskoka Emergency Response Committee (MERC) is excited to pubVoyent Alerts! licly test Muskoka’s new emergency alert system powered by Voyent Alert! #AlertMuskoka The Muskoka Emergency Response Committee (MERC) launched the free Voyent Alerts! App in March as a way to let users know of emergencies in the Muskoka region. Muskoka Paramedic Services and Emergency Management Chief Jeff McWilliam said the system was implemented when officials "identified the need for a systemic and unified approach to public emergency notifications."