1 Sample Presentation Emergency Preparedness Education Adapted from the Basic Emergency Management (BEM) course, Emergency Management Ontario (2004) Note: This presentation was designed for provincial ministries and municipalities. Content needs to be adapted to use with board of health staff.

2 Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery Components of Emergency Management

3 Define preparedness Understand the main elements of preparedness Learn about and discuss preparedness programs and strategies at the community, provincial and federal levels Participate in a preparedness activity Lesson Objectives

4 “Actions taken prior to an emergency or disaster to ensure an effective response” Emergency Management Ontario Glossary of Terms Preparedness

EMERGENCY PLANS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE TRAINING EXERCISES EMERGENCY INFORMATION PUBLIC AWARENESS & PUBLIC EDUCATION THE FOUNDATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS HIRA Pillars of Preparedness

6 PreparednessNot preparedness Police liaison officers raising awareness about safety with schoolchildren Sending police cruisers to an accident site Compensating victims of a shipping accident Planning how to respond to a terrorism incident Conducting a tabletop exercise Zoning vulnerable areas as non-residential Preparedness or Not Preparedness

7 Communities:  By-laws are required for establishing and approving Emergency Response Plan Ministries:  Ministry Emergency Response Plans must be approved by the Minister Emergency Plans

8 1 All-HazardsHazard-specific A generic emergency plan that describes activities and arrangements to deal with any emergency situation in the community Emergency plans are developed based on identified hazards and risk assessments In Ontario, emergency planning for communities is based on the specific hazards and risk assessment carried out through HIRA Emergency Plans

9 Plans are living documents Planning should be a team effort Planning is an ongoing process, not just writing the plans to be put on a shelf Emergency Management Program Plans

10 Mitigation plans Emergency response plans Recovery plans Public Awareness/Public Education plans Continuity of operations/Business continuity plans Emergency information Hazard-specific plans Evacuation plans Telecommunications plans Some key plans are: Other supporting plans may be: Various Types of Plans for an Emergency Management Program

11 Continuity of Operations/Business Continuity Program is an ongoing process supported by senior management Purpose is to ensure that necessary steps are taken to:  Identify the impact of potential losses  Maintain viable recovery strategies and recovery plans  Ensure continuity of services through: Staff training Plan testing Maintenance Business Continuity Planning

12 2 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is a facility where the Community Control Group or a Ministry Action Group assembles to manage an emergency EOC is a requirement under the Emergency Management Act Communities/Ministries should have a primary and an alternate location for the EOC Emergency Operations Centre

13 Community-based Training Communities/Ministries are required to provide annual emergency management training to their staff Training is an important element of building emergency response capability If an actual emergency happens, people should know what they are supposed to do and whom they will be working with as a group Basic Emergency Management course is an example of a course that is delivered by communities EMO’s new video for CCG training is now available 3 Training

14 What is an exercise? A focused practice activity that places participants in a simulated situation requiring them to function in the capacity that would be expected of them in a real event 4 Communities/Ministries are required to conduct annual exercises Communities/Ministries should develop an exercise program Exercises

15 Should be based on the hazards and risks identified through HIRA Can be designed to: test equipment, evaluate plans, or facilitate training Ensure that a plan’s elements are realistic and effective Ensure that the plan remains a living document and is supported by the annual exercising, reporting and plan revision Create interest, especially with the media Remember that we exercise the plan, not the people Exercises

16 Exercise programs involve long-term planning Consider the need for involvement from many groups:  Police/fire/EMS  Media  Industry  Upper/lower tier municipalities  Provincial/federal agencies  Conservation authorities Progress from simple to more complex exercises Developing an Exercise Program

17 Advance notice is needed so that the exercise is not confused with a real event Each telephone call or message should start and end with “This is an exercise” All documents produced or distributed should have “This is an exercise” printed clearly on them “No duff” is used when information pertaining to a REAL emergency must be communicated during an exercise Physical safety of participants is critical Safety needs depend on the type of exercise Exercise Safety

18 Hold a hotwash de-briefing (evaluation): What went well? What have we learned? What will we do next time to improve? Write a report shortly after the exercise Make the report and de-briefing a positive experience for participants Use the exercise to update your emergency management program (e.g., plans, procedures, resource deployment) After Any Exercise

19 5 Emergency Information is the communication of information to the public in order to protect their health, safety, welfare and property Emergency Information is a required part of an emergency response plan Emergency Information:  Is usually directed to the media for the public  Contributes to a well managed emergency  May be delivered as advisories, bulletins or warnings Emergency Information

20 Provides information about emergency management, to suggest ways to reduce the risk of loss of life and property damage in the event of an emergency Enhances public willingness to follow instructions from authorities during an emergency Provides opportunities for public consultation during the planning process Secures public participation in exercises 6 Public Awareness and Public Education

21 Provides generic information to the broader public to raise awareness Not targeted to a specific audience For example, you might ask people to be aware of whether they live in “Tornado Alley” Public Awareness

22 For example, you might ask people who do live in “Tornado Alley”: Do you know what to do before, during and after the impact of a tornado in your community? Provides focused information to a target audience to educate about protective actions to reduce the risk of life and property damage, in the event of an emergency Public Education

23 Emergency Survival Checklist Flashlight and batteries Radio, batteries/crank radio Spare batteries First-aid kit Candles and matches/lighter Extra car keys and cash Important papers Food and bottled water Clothing and footwear Blankets or sleeping bags Toilet paper and other personal items Medication Backpack/duffel bag Whistle Playing cards, games Public Awareness

24 EMERGENCY PLANS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE TRAINING EXERCISES EMERGENCY INFORMATION PUBLIC AWARENESS & PUBLIC EDUCATION THE FOUNDATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS HIRA Pillars of Preparedness

25 Preparedness is actions taken prior to an emergency or disaster to ensure an effective response Preparedness includes emergency plans, maintaining an Emergency Operations Centre, training, exercises, emergency information, public awareness and public education HIRA should be the foundation of the preparedness component of an emergency management program Lesson Summary

26 QUESTIONS? Preparedness