By Pepper Parr
May 20th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Earlier in the month the provincial government hosted an event called Exercise Heatwave. It was a large-scale simulated exercise which will reinforce provincial procedures and response to heat-related emergencies.
Six municipalities will participate, including Guelph, Mississauga, Peterborough, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Toronto, along with three federal government departments and more than 50 non-governmental organizations.
The Exercise took place between May 7 and 9.
Newly outfitted Emergency Operations Centre
To support municipalities in times of emergency, the province coordinates emergency management through the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC), which is staffed at all times and monitors evolving situations inside and outside of Ontario. To make the space more efficient and enable greater collaboration and information sharing, the PEOC was recently modernized with a new video display wall and floor layout, an upgraded audio system, ergonomic desks and chairs, a breakout room and folding walls that allow the space to be divided into three separate rooms that can be used for different functions.
The government is taking further action to ensure the province is as prepared as possible in the event of an emergency. In April, Ontario released its first annual report on the Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan, highlighting progress made in 2023 to move emergency management forward.
Regional Police have two mobile command units; one with a broadcast aerial that will allow them to transmit from wherever they are located.
The province also recently announced the 113 recipients of the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant, a $5 million investment that is empowering communities and organizations to enhance their emergency response by helping them purchase critical emergency supplies and deliver training and services.
Last week City Council met in CLOSED session for a workshop on:
Media relations training during emergencies.
To the best of our knowledge media was not invited to take part.
The climate has changed. It is reasonable to assume that there will be heat waves that we may not be prepared for. Is the city working out now what it wants to say should there be a serious heat wave with deaths being reported?
Related news articles:
Halton leads the way with high level secure communications systems.
Regional police have two mobile command buses.
