Local officials say changes to emergency response legislation a positive step

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“We are fortunate to have a strong emergency management program. We have great training and we have great procedures and plans,” she says. “Anytime the province offers to provide additional clarity and support for the work we’re doing at the municipal level, that’s a great partnership and one that we want to support.”

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Mann says in 2011 The City of Red Deer began using what’s called the Incident Command System, a common playbook used across the province so that when one municipality provides aid to another, they’re already familiar with terminology and procedures.

Mandatory use of this system for all municipalities would be the right way to go, she adds.

The system is also used in Red Deer County, where Director of Emergency Management Ric Henderson agrees a review of the legislation is needed.

“One of the good things is the mandatory evacuation [proposal]. It’s some extra teeth for when we tell people to leave and they don’t,” he says. “There’s got to be some ramifications for that. When people disregard that, sometimes it could put our rescuers at risk when you have to go rescue people that didn’t follow your direction.”

Henderson says consultations with the province will ideally help everybody get on the same page.

“Strength is in numbers and collaboration,” he says.

Other proposed changes to the Emergency Management Act include providing clarity on the lead person authorized to act on the minister’s behalf during a state of emergency and include details on the power and authority given to the lead role. There would also be clarity for rules on how disputes over compensation are handled when property is damaged by the emergency response, not by the actual emergency.

Debate on the proposed changes to the act is to come back to the legislature in the fall.

The City of Red Deer declared a state of local emergency following last June’s devastating windstorm. Red Deer County last declared a state of local emergency in response to flooding in 2005.