safecommunities

Safer Communities

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Partnerships Toward Safer Communities

Partnerships Toward Safer Communities Program

Improving Public Safety

The Partnerships Toward Safer Communities Program is an initiative of the Ministry of the Solicitor General and is designed to improve public safety in Ontario. This program promotes joint community/industry prevention (mitigation), preparedness and response at the community level to deal with emergency situations involving hazardous materials. The program provides assistance, advice and reference materials for communities to supplement their respective emergency preparedness and response plans.

A Partnership Approach

Emergency Measures Ontario, (EMO) a branch of the Ministry of the Solicitor General, is responsible for coordinating provincial emergency preparedness and response arrangements, and is spearheading implementation of the Safer Communities program in conjunction with the Office of the Fire Marshal. The program is targeted at Ontario communities where hazardous facilities are located.

The Ontario Advisory Council for Joint Community/Industry Emergency Preparedness provides advice and assistance for the program to the Executive Director of EMO. This advisory council is a partnership of federal, provincial, community and industry representatives. In addition, Area Advisory Councils have been formed to help develop local joint coordinating committees in communities with hazardous facilities and materials. To date, five Area Councils have been established in Southwestern Ontario, Southeastern Ontario, Northeastern Ontario Northwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. These councils are co-chaired by an industry representative and the EMO Area Officer, bringing together representation from the participating communities.

How to Participate

There are three levels of emergency preparedness in the program: essential, enhanced and excellent, each with specific criteria for communities to move progressively toward achieving full emergency preparedness. Collectively, the achievement levels help reduce the frequency or severity of major industrial or transportation accidents involving hazardous substances.

To participate in the program, a community must form a joint coordinating committee consisting of industry representatives, first responders and emergency measures staff. Basic activity includes hazard identification and risk assessment, leading to a plan to deal with a hazardous facility emergency. Once developed, the plan should then become part of a community's emergency plan. Once a community has achieved the goals of one achievement level, it then proceeds toward achieving the next level.

Recognition Program

This special recognition program will acknowledge and applaud a community's success in reaching one of the three achievement levels of emergency preparedness as outlined in the Partnerships Toward Safer Communities Program.

Beginning in 2001, during Emergency Preparedness Week, the Ontario government will present certificates to communities for successful implementation of the Partnerships Toward Safer Communities Program objectives.

The communities to be recognized during the 2001 Emergency Preparedness Week events, scheduled for May 7 –13, 2001, are:
Enhanced Level of Achievement:

City of Thunder Bay

Essential Level of Achievement:

City of Hamilton
City of Cornwall
City of London
City of Barrie
Town of Port Hope

Framework For Community Emergency Management Programs

Aim To address increasing public safety risks in Ontario by developing improved community emergency management programs based on international best practices. The four core components of emergency management are: mitigation / prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

Scope Emergency management programs are divided into three levels: essential, enhanced and comprehensive. Each community should have, as a minimum, an emergency management program at the essential level. A community should then seek to progressively develop its program until the comprehensive level is reached. A comprehensive emergency management program is the best way to protect public safety and create disaster–resilient communities. A comprehensive community emergency management program also contributes to the protection of public health, the environment, property and economic stability.

Initial Steps

Because each community has different and distinct hazards and risks, a hazard identification and risk assessment needs to be completed for the community. Hazards (what can occur) include natural, technological and human-caused events. The risk assessment determines how often and how severe the effects could be on public safety. This is generally understood as probability and consequences (impact and vulnerability). The results of these steps will indicate both the priorities and how the emergency management program should be developed for the community.

Essential Program Enhanced Program Comprehensive Program

Designation of a community emergency management coordinator
Formation of a community emergency management program committee
Publication of an approved community emergency response plan
Development of an appropriate community emergency operations center
Identification of critical infrastructure
Development of an appropriate community emergency response capability
Conduct of annual training for the emergency control group and emergency operations center staff
Conduct of an annual exercise to evaluate the community emergency response plan
Identification of individuals to act as community emergency information staff
Development and implementation of a community emergency management public awareness program
Conduct of an annual review of the community emergency management program

Publication of an enhanced community emergency response plan to include supporting plans for high risks (e.g. hazardous facility, flood, severe weather, transportation accidents, etc.)
Publication of a supporting plan for the dissemination of emergency information including the designation and arrangements for a local information center
Development of an enhanced community emergency operations centre to include detailed operating procedures, arrangements, and provision for appropriate specialist and auxiliary staff during an emergency
Development and implementation of an annual community emergency management training program involving appropriate staff, volunteer organizations, auxiliary staff and emergency services
Development and implementation of an annual community emergency management exercise program involving appropriate staff, volunteer organizations, auxiliary staff and emergency services
Development and implementation of a community public education program based on identified high risks
Development and implementation of an annual self – assessment process to determine the quality and effectiveness of the community emergency management program

Development of mutual aid and assistance agreements with neighbouring communities and organizations
Development of a community mitigation strategy and plan for identified high risks
Publication of a community recovery plan for identified high risks
Implementation of guidelines for risk–based land use planning
Designation of community dangerous goods routes
Development and implementation of a detailed risk-based public education program
Development of a comprehensive community evacuation plan
Designation of a community emergency management week to publicize the emergency management program and recognize the contribution of all partners
Development and implementation of an external assessment process to determine the quality and effectiveness of the community emergency management program

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