Emergency Response Plan

The Emergency Response Plan discusses the basics of the Emergency Management Program and provides a breakdown of the roles and responsibilities for the various individuals and groups that will respond to as requested by one of the Municipalities or that affects 2 or more Municipalities or the Region as a whole.

Summary of the Roles and Responsibilities

• Emergency Control Group:  Evaluate options and make decisions regarding the preparation for, response to, and recovery from, the emergency and provide support to the emergency site.
• Halton Regional Police Service: Will provide emergency response service as well as establish an On-Scene Command Post and designate the Inner and Outer Perimeters at the Emergency Site; provide traffic control to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles or for needed emergency road closures; and coordinate evacuations of neighbourhoods as required.
• Municipal Fire Departments: Will provide emergency response duties (fire fighting and rescue services).
• Emergency Medical Services: Will provide normal emergency response duties; liaise with Police, Fire, and other agencies active at the emergency site; ensure triage and treatment at the emergency site; and assist with the organization and transport of persons in health care facilities, homes for the aged, nursing homes and rest homes, which are to be evacuated, as required.
• Social and Community Services: Working with community partners to provide care and shelter to people displaced by an emergency.
• Public Works: Will continue daily operations (maintain, construct, and repair Regional roads and maintain water and sanitary sewage systems) in an emergency response capacity; provide equipment for emergency pumping operations; provide emergency potable water, supplies, and sanitation facilities as requested by the Medical Officer of Health: Provide resources, vehicles, and equipment as required by any other emergency services; provide direction and support on traffic management matters in co-ordination with emergency services; and deploy the Spills Team as required. 

• Health: Provide information and advice on all matters that may adversely affect public health; co-ordinate the Regional response to infectious disease related emergency or anticipated emergencies; liaise with Community Care Access Centre for Halton to ensure co-ordination of care of residents requiring special medical care at home and in evacuation centres during an emergency; and work with Public Works if potable water supplies and sanitation facilities are needed.

• Strategic Communications: Prompt dissemination of accurate information to the news media and the public. Halton’s Director of Strategic Communications will act as the Regional Public Information Coordinator (RPIC) during an emergency. The RPIC will coordinate all communications activities, including the preparation of news releases, fact sheets and public service announcements. The RPIC will also coordinate and facilitate all media conferences. When appropriate, the RPIC will liaise with the On-scene Media Coordinator regarding visits of news media personnel to the emergency site. The RPIC will also liaise with information staff from other organizations impacted by the emergency, including, but not limited to Halton’s local municipalities (Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, Oakville), the Halton Regional Police Service, local healthcare facilities, school boards and allied volunteer agencies.