Emergency services were strained during the December ice storm due to power outages and fallen trees, Wellington County council was told at its meeting on Jan. 30.
County community emergency management coordinator Linda Dickson and communications manager Andrea Ravensdale presented a joint report on difficulties faced by emergency services and what the county did during and after the Dec. 22 storm.
The report came a day after emergency officials from across the county met to review measures taken during the storm.
Dickson said response to an emergency in the county is coordinated between the county and its seven lower tier municipalities.
“We were able to keep everyone updated and municipalities did their own,” Dickson said of the coordinated response to the emergency.
But after the presentation Dickson said what emergency services have recognized is the need for residents to be more prepared when emergencies arise, particularly having a 72-hour emergency kit.
Councillor Bruce Whale raised the issue of members of the Mapleton fire service being called out to deal with fallen power lines. Whale pointed out firefighters are not equipped to deal with power outages and calls often tie up firefighters’ time when they can be dealing with other urgent matters.
“Hydro concerns have to be directed to the appropriate responders, hydro services,” Dickson told the Advertiser in an email after the presentation to council. “Our fire departments are not equipped nor trained to deal with the hydro services.”
Dickson said more will be done to promote 72-hour emergency kits, which should include non-perishable food items, a fully charged cell phone, battery operated radio and emergency home generator.
“I appreciate that everyone would like the problem to be fixed quickly, but in situations like the ice storm and accompanying widespread and extended power outages, a quick fix isn’t possible,” she said.
“That goes along with our main message of public education. We have been providing information about our 72-hour Be Better Prepared message for the last 10 years.
“Many, many residents are better prepared, but many still expect help immediately and well, that expectation is founded for 9-1-1 life threatening emergency calls; for widespread emergencies, disruptions and having to deal with the lack of the normal comforts of day-to-day life, a quick response should not be expected.
Better preparation needed
“We need to be better prepared to stay on our own for at least 72 hours. Utilities, municipalities, emergency responders only have a finite amount of resources and time to provide directed, coordinated and appropriate assistance.
“While we would dearly like to be everywhere and help each and every individual, unfortunately it is not practical nor is it physically and fiscally possible.”
Dickson continued, “The aim of emergency management is to create disaster-resilient communities. That means us giving the residents the information to help themselves, to be ready to deal with the unexpected and the ‘unwanted’ events – know your risks (in the emergency response plan on our county website), make a plan on how to respond at home and to help your family and friends if necessary, make a 72-hour emergency kit.
“We will be focusing a lot of effort and resources into public education, both in the media, on the radio and at planned events throughout the coming year.”
Ravensdale said the county posted pre-storm warnings on its website and via its twitter account. Those warnings were updated until the storm hit on Dec. 22.
The information included an Environment Canada weather update, an advisory that travel was not recommended, road condition phone numbers, postings to media outlets and radio stations that would be providing regular updates, contact with Hydro One and Wellington North Power.
The county postings also included how to report a power outage, which in some municipalities lasted for several days, and county facilities that were closed due to power outages.
Dickson also raised the issue of emergency generators that have not been installed at some municipal facilities. It’s an issue she hopes to discuss at the municipal level of emergency services.
