Municipalities

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.

When the humidex temperature is predicted to be greater than 36° 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.

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° 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.

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

Health

Health Protection and Promotion Act, 2004

Ontario Public Health Standards

Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004

Ontario

Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 1990

Coroners Act, 1990

Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1990

Incident Management System (IMS) Doctrine for Ontario

Canada

Emergency Management Act, 2007

Quarantine Act, 2005

CSA Group (formerly Canadian Standards Association; CSA)