Emergency Planning

The Municipal Emergency Control Group operating from the Emergency Operation Centre is responsible for coordinating municipal emergency response and recovery activities. The Municipal Emergency Control Group usually includes leading community officials, emergency management representatives and other relevant staff.

All emergency response will be directed and controlled by a group of officials who will be responsible for coordinating the provision of essential services needed to minimize the effects of the emergency on the municipality. This group of officials will be known as the Municipal Emergency Control Group and will be made up of the following:

• Head of Council
• Clerk-Treasurer
• Public Work Foremen
• Fire Chief
• Emergency Information Officer
• Community Emergency Management Coordinator

The MECG may function with only a limited number of members depending upon the emergency situation. However, all members of the MECG shall be notified of the emergency and its consequences.

Municipal Emergency Control Group Responsibility:

The following is a list of the collective responsibilities of the MECG. The individual roles of the members of the MECG will be outlined in the following sections.

1. Advise the Head of Council as to whether an emergency should be officially declared.
2. Advise as to what areas of the municipality should be designated as an emergency area.
3. Activate the Emergency Response Plan.
4. Appoint an Incident Commander.
5. Support the Incident Commander by offering equipment, staff and resources.
6. Authorize set up of Emergency Information Centre.
7. Authorize set up of reporting and inquiry centre.
8. Provide Emergency Information Officer with timely and accurate information for issuance of media and general public.
9. Authorize the expenditure of money required to deal with the emergency.
10. Manage information, including maintenance and retention of the event logs and expenditures.
11. Maintain a log of decisions made.
12. Maintain a log of actions taken.
13. Authorize the movement of equipment and resources beyond the immediate emergency site.
14. Order and coordinate evacuations.
15. Authorize the set up of evacuation shelters, including registration and inquiry centres.
16. Determine and arrange for transport of evacuees.
17. Authorize the discontinuation of utilities and services such as hydro, water and other services at both the emergency site and any other areas of the secondary emergencies.
18. Authorize and direct the use of municipal resources.
19. Determine if additional resources are required to assist with the emergency effort.
20. Arrange for extra resources (human and equipment) to be utilized (i.e., private contractors, industry, volunteer agencies, service clubs, church groups, etc.)
21. Request assistance from and/or liaison with various levels of government and any other public or private agency not administrated by the local government.
22. Authorize Clerk-Treasurer to activate mutual assistance agreements.
23. Recommend the termination of an emergency to the Head of Council or Council.
24. Implement a recovery strategy.
25. Participate in post-emergency debriefing and assist with the preparation of reports.

A management team to oversee the development, implementation and maintenance of an emergency program. The Emergency Management Program Committee will compose of the same members as the Municipal Emergency Control Group and will be made of the following:

• Head of Council (Mayor Culhane)
• Clerk-Treasurer (Karine Pelletier)
• Public Works Foremen (Mark Brown)
• Fire Chief ( Neil Albright)
• Emergency Information Officer (EIO) (Michelle Tweedy)
• Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) (Melanie Jensen)

The Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) is hereby appointed as Chair of the Emergency Management Committee. (EMPC).

The EMPC shall advise Council on the development and implementation of the municipality's Emergency Management Program and shall review the program annually.

a)         To provide leadership in the EOC operations.

b)         Declares an emergency after consulting with MECG.

c)         May terminate an emergency after consulting with MECG and Council.

d)         Notify proper individuals and agencies of the declaration and termination of an emergency.

e)         Meet with Council and keep them informed of the emergency situation.

f)         Liaise with local municipal Heads of Council that may also have declared an emergency.

g)         Request assistance from neighboring municipalities or senior levels of government.

h)         Establish a communication link with Emergency Information Officer.

i)         Ensure that all inquiries regarding the MECG and the emergency operation are directed to the Emergency Information Officer.

j)         Approve news releases and public announcements issued by the Emergency Information Officer.

k)         Maintain log of actions taken and decisions made.

l)         Partake in interviews and media photograph sessions in consultation with the EIO.

m)       Establish communication links with EIO and ensure all inquiries are directed to EIO.

a)         Upon being notified that an emergency has occurred or a warning of a potential emergency by a member of the Township’s             Municipal Emergency Control Group, shall ensure that the Township of McGarry notification procedure is activated.

b)         Coordinating all Emergency Operation Centre functions, such as ensuring the operating cycle is scheduled and maintained,               arranging for the preparation of agendas, ensuring proper support staff are in place to effectively operate the EOC.

c)         Ensure ongoing essential administrative functions of the municipality are maintained and if these are affected by the emergency             situation, determine those efforts needed to restore services.

d)         Arrange for additional EOC support staff as required.

e)         Advise Head of Council on administrative matters, proper policies and procedures of the municipal government and laws.

f)         Assist Head of Council in authorizing the dissemination of information through the Emergency Information Officer to the media             and the general public.

g)         Authorize implementation of Mutual Assistance Agreements in consultation with MECG.

h)         Maintain log of actions taken and decisions made.

a)         Upon becoming aware that an emergency has occurred or is threatening to occur, shall ensure that the Clerk-Treasurer is             advised to activate the EOC notification procedures.

b)         If necessary, establish a site command post with communication link to EOC.

c)         If directed by the MECG, choose an Incident Commander.

d)         Advise MECG on information pertaining to road design, resources, etc.

e)         Liaise with public works officials from surrounding municipalities.

f)         Liaise with Conservation Authorities on matters related to flooding.

g)         Establish communication links with road officials at the site.

h)         Maintain municipal services provided such services could be safely maintained.

i)         Liaise with Provincial Road Authorities where these transportation corridors are affected.

j)         Contact proper agencies to have public or private utilities disconnected if public safety is affected or when directed by MECG.

k)         Liaise with utility representatives to provide alternate means of providing hydro, etc. if utilities are affected.

l)         Assist police services with obtaining and providing manpower to establish barricades and flasher equipment at proper             perimeters.

m)       Ensure municipal road equipment and/or personnel is made available to the emergency site as needed and approved by the             MECG.

n)         Maintain log of actions taken and decisions made.

a)         Upon becoming aware that an emergency has occurred or is threatening to occur, shall ensure that the Clerk-Treasurer is             advised to activate the EOC notification procedures.

b)         If necessary establish a fire site command post with communication link to EOC.

c)         If emergency is fire related, choose Incident Commander, if necessary, and seek endorsement of MECG.

d)         Establish communication links with fire officials at the emergency site.

e)         Advise MECG on matters relating to fire resources.

f)         Determine if additional fire resources are required to aid emergency site effort.

g)         Ensure equipment and manpower needs are adequate.

h)         Ensure that the Timiskaming District Mutual Aid Plan (fire departments) is activated as requested by MECG.

i)         Assist EMS with casualties as necessary.

j)         Liaise with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Fire Marshall’s Office, etc.

k)         Maintain log of actions taken and decisions made.

a)         Ensuring the dissemination of all emergency information to the media and public.

b)         To establish a communication link with the Head of Council and any other media coordinators.

c)         Ensure proper groups are advised of the Emergency Information Centre telephone numbers such as the media, MECG and             municipal staff.

d)         Coordinates all emergency information including media photograph sessions and interviews at the EOC and emergency site.

e)         Responsible for setting up and staffing the Emergency Information Centre, if required.

f)         Liaise with MECG to obtain up-to-date information for the media in order to prepare and issue press releases, arrange media             briefings and may be required to post information on the internet.

g)         Ensure that the Head of Council approves all media releases prior to dissemination.

h)         Ensure copies of all media releases are provided to Emergency Information Centre staff, MECG and key media officers from             other agencies.

i)         Monitor news coverage and ensure erroneous information is corrected.

j)         Maintain copies of all media information pertaining to the emergency such as media releases, newspaper articles, etc.

k)         Maintain personal log of all decisions made and actions taken.

a)         If necessary, upon becoming aware that an emergency has occurred or is threatening to occur, shall ensure that the Clerk-            Treasurer is advised to activate the EOC notification procedures.

b)         Ensure proper communications are in place at EOC and at emergency site and that a proper link is established between the two             locations.

c)         Ensure proper set-up and function of the EOC.

d)         Register MECG members at the EOC site.

e)         Ensure that proper security is in place for both the emergency site and the EOC.

f)         Provide up-to-date information on the developing emergency situation to MECG and EMO.

g)         Ensure that MECG has supplies (emergency response plan, resources, supplies, pens, maps and equipment) necessary to              conduct emergency operations in the EOC.

h)         Provide advice and clarification to the MECG about the implementation of the Emergency Response Plan.

i)         Liaise with social services and community support agencies.

j)         Address any action items resulting from the activation of the Emergency Response Plan.

k)         Ensure MECG is informed of implementation needs of the Emergency Response Plan.

l)         Maintain records and files of decisions made and logs taken for the purpose of conducting a debriefing, post emergency             reporting and updating the Emergency Response Plan and program.