Being Ready for a Disaster Requires Precision Planning and Multi-Agency Collaboration
At a moment’s notice an explosion can wreak havoc in a community or a torrential downpour can trigger rivers to overflow, resulting in flooding. Both situations are dire, and simulated planning is required to effectively respond and minimize tragic outcomes.
The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) in Ontario participated in two collaborative mock disaster scenarios in Oakville and Napanee with other community organizations. In Halton Region, the Oakville and Milton Humane Society, Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and Halton Region’s Emergency Social Services were on hand to help provide insight and logistical support.
“To prepare, municipalities are required to have annual exercises and frequently The Salvation Army is invited to participate,” says Trevor McLellan, emergency disaster services specialist in Ontario. “We work with municipalities throughout the province to provide coordinated support during emergencies, ensuring care reaches those who need it most.”
The scenario “Decisions Before Dawn” involved two hypothetical early morning high-rise building fires in Milton and Oakville, leading to the evacuation of residents in Halton Region. (No actual people were involved) The Salvation Army was tasked with efficiently feeding 220 individuals at evacuation centres and hotels, while providing emotional and spiritual care of people experiencing trauma and thrift stores planned theoretical response for emergency clothing and footwear, distributing vouchers to affected residents.
“These partnerships are the backbone of this emergency social services program and a lot of our emergency response,” says Christopher Leite, chief of emergency management for Halton Region. “When we’re picking these partners, we make sure they have experience and know how to work with different communities and residents in a hands-on way.”
In Napanee, 10 EDS team members gathered for an exercise based on the fictional town of Boothville, which had been hit by two tornadoes and managed incident command roles in food preparation and distribution to the “affected” residents.
“No one agency can manage an emergency alone and connecting regularly with other response
agencies is vital, so everyone is able to work effectively together,” Trevor says. “The exercise is designed to help emergency response teams be prepared and it is also a great opportunity for the EDS team members to network and meet with a number of response agencies.”
To learn more about The Salvation Army and Emergency Disaster Services in Ontario, please email on.eds@salvationarmy.ca or visit www.salvationarmy.ca/eds.