A broad-scoped emergency plan was officially launched on Monday by the Regional Emergency Management Partnership.
The team-up is an initiative between Lethbridge County, the towns of Coalhurst, Nobleford, Picture Butte and the Village of Barons.
Staff from each municipality got together on Monday for a briefing on the Regional Emergency Management Plan, which sets them up with tools needed to coordinate a regional response to a large-scale or long-term disaster.
The partnership was announced in November 2024, with Breea Tamminga later named the Emergency Management Coordinator. Tamminga works with the partner municipalities to lead collective disaster preparedness and response strategies.
READ MORE: First emergency management coordinator for the region announced
The plan outlines the protocols and coordination that would be needed to manage significant emergencies that extend past the scope of everyday incidents, such as wildfires, flooding, hazardous materials being spilled, and extended utility outages.
It offers direction on:
- Establishing emergency operations centres and command structures
- The roles and responsibilities of municipal staff and agency representatives
- Risk assessments and training plans
- Recovery in affected communities
- When and how to declare a State of Local Emergency
- Communication protocols to inform the public
The plan does not replace existing procedures for day-to-day emergencies that are taken care of by each municipality’s fire departments and emergency services.
