Municipalities

The Health Unit's Emergency Management Program works closely with the 31 municipalities, 9 First Nations Reserves and community partners in the Nipissing and Parry Sound Districts to plan for and respond to emergencies.

All emergencies have an impact on the public's health in varying degrees. The Health Unit's Emergency Management Plan provides a framework for how the Health Unit will respond to emergencies.

For more information about the Health Unit's Emergency Management Plan or the roles and responsibilities of the Medical Officer of Health in an emergency contact the Manager of Emergency Management.

Evacuation Centre Plan

For a copy of the "Evacuation Centre Plan: Public Health Activities in an Emergency Evacuation Centre, A Guiding Document for Municipalities" contact the Manager of Emergency Management.

The Evacuation Centre Plan gives guidance to municipalities for considering public health issues while establishing and monitoring an evacuation centre. It considers the physical requirements, health protection, and health promotion of evacuees.

Planning for an evacuation centre needs to address the physical amenities and space required for well-being, minimizing of the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, and the need to care for those with chronic diseases.

The Municipal Emergency Response Plans detail emergency preparedness, response and recovery arrangements for the community to ensure the coordinated response to emergencies by all agencies, which have responsibilities and functions in emergencies.

The Municipality's Community Control Group is ultimately responsible for the activation of an evacuation centre in the event that normal resources are not equipped to manage the accommodation requirements following a decision to evacuate a population. Activation of an evacuation centre will require multi agency consultation and response.

This document should be used as a guide for consideration rather than a mandatory directive. It does not replace the need for the application of expert judgment to each individual situation.

Extreme Heat Advisory Plan

When the humidex temperature is predicted to be greater than 36 degrees celsius for two days in a row the Health Unit will activate its Heat Advisory Plan.

The aim of the Extreme Heat Advisory Plan is:

To ensure that vulnerable groups are provided with information on what precautions to take when temperatures reach extremely high levels
To ensure that high-risk populations are informed when temperatures reach extremely high levels

For more information about the Health Unit's Extreme Heat Advisory Plan contact the Manager of Emergency Management.

For more information regarding extreme heat and how to protect yourself visit;

Health Canada

Extreme Cold Advisory Plan

The Health Unit's Extreme Cold Advisory Plan is activated when the forecasted wind speed is 15 km/hr or more and the wind chill values are expected to last three hours or more at a temperature of -40 degrees celsius or below.

The aim of the Extreme Cold Advisory Plan is:

To ensure that vulnerable groups are provided with information on what precautions to take to protect themselves when temperatures with a wind chill drop to extremely cold levels
To ensure that high-risk populations are informed when temperatures drop to extreme levels

For more information about the Health Unit's Extreme Cold Advisory Plan contact the Manager of Emergency Management.

Acts and Standards

There is both Provincial and Federal legislation that address Emergency Preparedness and Emergencies.

Municipalities

Evacuation Centre Plan

Extreme Heat Advisory Plan

Extreme Cold Advisory Plan

Acts and Standards

Health

Ontario

Canada

Contact the Manager of Emergency Management