Emergency Management

Emergency Management Act

Effective May 2007, the Disaster Services Act has been replaced by the Emergency Management Act.

In 2007, the County of Stettler, Town of Stettler, Villages of Big Valley, Botha, Donalda, Gadsby, and Summer Villages of White Sands and Rochon Sands formed a regional partnership agreement for emergency management services.

Emergency Agreement

With changes in the old Disaster Services Act, the summer villages now have the authority to declare their own local state of emergency, which they did not have previously. We have been working with the Summer Village of White Sands, Summer Village of Rochon Sands, Village of Big Valley, Village of Donalda, Town of Stettler, and the County of Stettler to join together to form a regional framework agreement for emergency management. 

This will allow all of us to work together under a mutual agreement in a time of emergency. This agreement has now been finalized to provide emergency management services.

Staff Function

With the Director and Deputies of Emergency Management, we are continually involved in the planning and training issues surrounding emergency management for the Town and County of Stettler.

Responsibilities

The director is responsible for fulfilling the obligation of this position serving both the County and Town of Stettler. Part of this mandate is developing and coordinating an overall regional program of preparedness for, response to, and recovery from, emergencies and disasters, as well as assisting other municipalities to develop and maintain a high level of emergency preparedness.

When it comes to emergency preparedness and emergency management, we all have a role to play.

Individuals take steps ahead of time to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours during an emergency. You should also understand the basic principles of first aid and safety. Every disaster is a local disaster. Different levels of organizations respond progressively as an emergency escalates and their resources are needed. For tips on how to prepare yourself and your family, click here. 

First Responders

The first ones to respond are closest to the emergency. First Responders, i.e., fire fighters, police, paramedics, and search and rescue teams are normally the first to respond to an emergency. They are responsible for managing most local emergencies as part of the municipal emergency plan.

Find out more about the emergency plan in your area by contacting your emergency management organization (EMO).

Non-Government Organizations

There are several non-profit, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) that play very important roles in emergency management, including disaster prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Some examples include the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and the Salvation Army. They work in partnership with governments to help Canadians deal with emergencies from providing first aid training to disaster relief.

Provincial & Territorial Governments

Every province and territory have an Emergency Management Organization (EMO) which manages large-scale emergencies and provides assistance to municipal, or community response teams as required. EMOs fulfill an important role in support of first responders and municipalities.

Federal departments and agencies support provincial or territorial EMOs as requested. They also manage emergencies that involve areas of federal jurisdiction, such as nuclear safety, national defense, and border security.