Here's how Collingwood is preparing for potential emergencies

Collingwood’s emergency plan is a ‘living document’ constantly being updated and improved, according to the town’s fire chief, Ross Parr.

Parr was at a Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting last week (Feb. 5) to give a presentation on the town’s emergency management plans.

In Collingwood, agreements signed by municipalities in Simcoe County mean any municipality in the county can call upon others in the county to provide resources.

According to Parr, those could include snowplows, loaders, manpower, and more.

“After the Angus incident, community emergency management coordinators decided we needed to get this agreement together,” said Parr, the coordinator for Collingwood. “I’m a support lobbyist. I create relationships within the county and get documents signed.”

The Angus incident refers to the tornado that went through the town in 2017, causing town council at the time to declare a state of emergency.

A state of emergency declaration not only sets the municipality’s emergency plan into motion, it will open up opportunities for provincial disaster relief funding.

While Collingwood has faced emergencies, including the report of a bank robbery in progress that shut down Hurontario Street over the Christmas break and a fire that destroyed a downtown business last month, declaring a state of emergency is reserved for human-caused, natural, and technological emergencies that threaten public safety, public health, the environment, property, critical infrastructure, and economic stability.

Parr said there is a municipal emergency control group responsible for directing the municipality’s response in an emergency, and that group still meets to discuss local emergencies that don’t qualify as states of emergency.

Parr told the committee pieces of the emergency management plan can be used even if there is no state of emergency declared.

Following the report of a bank robbery, that turned out to be false, and the fire, the team met for a “debrief” to discuss lessons learned in both situations, according to CAO Fareed Amin, a member of the control group.

In addition to Amin and Parr, control group members include the town clerk, communications officer, director of public works, engineering, and environmental services, the deputy fire chief, the deputy clerk, the director of parks, recreation, and culture, and the treasurer. Each member of the control group also has a designated alternate from their department.

Part of Parr’s work also includes identifying risks and hazards in the community. Parr said he works with EPCOR and local businesses and industries to record potential hazards and make sure the appropriate safety legislation is being followed.

An emergency plan is mandated for every municipality by the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. To read Collingwood’s plan, click here.

The town also recommends Collingwood residents do some of their own pre-planning in case of emergency.

The town website lists “essential steps” for emergency preparedness including choosing an out-of-town contact so you and your family can check-in during emergencies.

Residents should also establish a meeting place away from your home in case your home is affected by an emergency, and residents should prepare an emergency preparedness kit.

Emergency Management Ontario has a checklist for the kits available on its website here.

The town also recommends residents know about the town’s emergency management plans, your building plan if you live in a multi-unit building, and those of your children’s school or day-care centres.

Finally, the town recommends residents learn basic first aid and CPR.