Section 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Emergency Definition

The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act defines an emergency as, “…a situation or an impending situation that constitutes a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to persons or substantial damage to property and that is caused by the forces of nature , a disease or other health risk, an accident or an act whether intentional or otherwise;” In this Emergency Plan emergencies are defined as situations abnormally affecting the lives and property of our society which, by their nature and magnitude, require a controlled and coordinated response by a number of agencies, both Government and private, under the direction of the Head of Council, as distinct from routine operations carried out by an agency or agencies, e.g. fire fighting, police activities, normal hospital routines, etc.

1.2 Legislation

The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act replaces the Emergency Plans Act of 1983 and later the Emergency Plans Act R.S.O. 1990. Whereas the previous Act gave municipalities the authority to create emergency plans, the new Act requires each municipality to develop, implement and maintain an emergency management program. On November 19^th 2002 Bill 148 received Royal Assent allowing the Act to provide for declaration of death in certain circumstances and to amend the Emergency Plans Act. On this date Bill 148 changed the name of the Act to the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. The Act requires municipalities, ministers of the Crown and designated agencies, boards, commissions and other branches of government to develop and implement emergency management programs, consisting of emergency plans, training programs, and exercises, public education and any other element prescribed by regulation. “The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, “ Is the primary authority enabling passage of the municipal by-law formulating this emergency plan, which will also govern the provision of necessary services during an emergency.

1.3 Objective of Plan

To safeguard the property, health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants faced with an emergency. This allows for the protection of people, property and the environment with a controlled and coordinated response by a number of agencies.

1.4 Intent of Plan

The plan is intended to provide:

a) The earliest possible response to an emergency with services required, and the establishment of overall control of emergency operations.

b) Earliest possible population control to minimize crowd assembly.

c) To maintain order at the site so emergency operations are not impeded and casualties are avoided.

d) Immediate action to defuse sources of potential danger in the area of the incident.

e) Prompt evacuation of any building considered being in a hazardous situation.

f) Controlled evacuation and balanced distribution of casualties to hospitals.

g) Total or partial evacuation of the area.

h) Immediate rescue of persons affected by the incident and protection for the emergency service personnel involved.

i) Essential social services as required for persons affected by the incident and emergency services personnel involved.

j) Authorization of expenditures.

k) Factual official information at the earliest time to: All Officials involved in the emergency operations.

l) To provide officials with a level of familiarity essential to a methodical and coordinated response.

1.5 Conceptual Response

The Sarnia Emergency Management Response Plan can be implemented in whole or in part in response to the community need. Plan implementation procedures (see Section 3) and Public Notification Procedures (Section 4) are clearly outlined. From this point the plan is designed to adhere to the chronological events anticipated with most risk-based emergency situations. It should be noted that although the Sarnia Emergency Management Response Plan is as thorough as possible, it might not address every possible situation. The Plan is an outline of the conceptual response to an emergency. The principles or concepts are to be applied to all incidents if effective coordinated response is to be achieved. This allows Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, City Engineering, Sarnia Transit, Community Services, and various other organizations a frame work to work within a unified command structure.

1.6 Implementation

The Sarnia Police Service will be responsible for initiating the call out when required.

1.7 Callout

If the Primary Control Group is called out, the persons listed in Sarnia Emergency Management Operational Guides call out list will be called. Only one person under each position needs to be contacted. This person is the first name. Designates are called only when the first person is not reached. If police ask for Primary and Secondary Control Groups, See Sarnia Emergency Management Operational Guides call out list Throughout this Plan wherever a representative is mentioned his or her alternate may be substituted as required.

1.8 Emergency Management Program Committee

Intent:

The Sarnia Emergency Management Program Committee is the critical management team that oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of Sarnia’s Community Emergency Management Program.

Standard:

Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act each municipality is required to have an Emergency Management Program Committee, which along with the City’s Community Emergency Management Coordinator, must annually review the City of Sarnia’s Emergency Management Response Plan to ensure continuing relevance and effectiveness. The CEMC, Chair of the Emergency Management Program Committee and the Head of Council will be required at various times to submit forms to Emergency Management Ontario verifying the level of the community’s emergency program.

Organizational Structure:

The current Emergency Management Program Committee consists of the following:

Director of Community Services	Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC)
A Senior Police Representative from the Sarnia Police Service	A senior Representative from the Sarnia Fire Rescue Service Sarnia Fire Chief
ARES	Sarnia Engineering / Public Works

The Sarnia CEMC can also consider the previous & following individuals / organizations and others for inclusion in the Emergency Program Committee or as a working group / advisory group if required:

Sarnia Transit	Educational Rep. (Public, Separate & Private
An Elected Official	Planning & Development (Land Use Planner)
Industrial Rep. CAER / CVECO	EMS Manager
Bluewater Power Rep.	Community Health Services
Bell Canada Rep.	Hydro One Rep.
Volunteer Organizations (Salvation Army Etc.	Social Services / Organizations at large
Union Gas Rep.	Bluewater Health Rep. (Hospital)
Environmental Organization Rep.	Natural Resources Rep.

Sarnia Emergency Management Program Committee Mandate:

When considering specific representation on the Committee or on a Working group the Sarnia Emergency Management Program Committee and the Sarnia CEMC will ensure that the individual has the expertise relating to their task on the committee. The Sarnia Emergency Management Program Committee should have a chairperson on a rotation basis. The Sarnia CEMC will provide emergency management expertise and administrative support while another person serves as chairperson. The CEMC will ensure that there are regular scheduled meetings. It is vital that Emergency Program Committee members attend these meetings to provide or enhance the effectiveness of the Sarnia Emergency Program Response Plan.

1.9 See Sarnia Emergency Management Program Reporting Structure Chart: