Menu

emergency

Flooding - sandbagging Shevlin 2

Provincial funding to assist with emergency response

Another round of funding to help communities and agencies improve their ability to respond to emergencies.

The province is issuing grants of up to $50,000 to 115 recipients.

The funding allows them to purchase supplies, equipment and services.

“Our government is strengthening the readiness of local communities and organizations to better prepare for any type of emergency,” states Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, in a release.

The complete list of recipients has not yet been made available.

Those who received funding in previous years were not eligible to apply for the latest round of funding.

The Community Emergency Preparedness Grant supports small to medium-sized municipalities, local services boards, First Nations communities, Tribal Councils and Indigenous service organizations.

Since the program’s launch in 2023, the province has invested $15 million to provide 342 recipients.

point-park-flooding-12-scaled-1

State of Emergency Declared in Fort Frances

, , , ,

A state of emergency has been declared in Fort Frances.

PRESS RELEASE RE: STATE OF EMERGENCY

Posted by Town of Fort Frances: Official on Saturday, April 23, 2022

Heavy rain Friday night and Saturday morning resulted in a pumping station near the Memorial Sports Centre to fail.

Town spokesperson Patrick Briere says crews have been working around the clock to keep water flowing.

“It (got) to a point overnight last night where we had a critical infrastructure failure at one of our lift stations. We have crews on scene. They’ve been working all night, and they continue to work to alleviate the problems and the back-ups. We are pushing at 100% capacity for water right now,” says Briere.

Briere says residents should ensure their sump pumps are flowing outside.

Is your sump pump moved over to summer mode? In accordance with by-law 06/16 after March 31 sump pumps cannot discharge…

Posted by Town of Fort Frances: Official on Friday, April 22, 2022

He says they have talked about getting residents to conserve water, but no decision has been made.

“We’re just asking the residents to ensure their sump pumps are discharging outside now. We haven’t gotten to the point where we’re asking for the reduction in usage yet, but it is something that has been discussed at our table and will be discussed further as that as the situation unfolds,” says Briere.

Briere and Mayor June Caul toured the town Saturday morning.

There was flooding of the Portage Avenue underpass, but that cleared up once pumps there kicked into operation.

Point Park is under water and is now closed to the public.

“So just stay out of that area for sure and stay out of the areas where crews and contractors are working. Just let them do their jobs safely. We do have some portable pumps in some areas of town, and we are working in the arena area right now as a core operation right now. So if people could just stay away from those areas and let town crews work, it’ll help us get through things faster.”

There are also reports of flooding in other parts of the Rainy River District.

Some rural roads are completely underway water.

Environment Canada is forecasting more rain Saturday night and Sunday morning before it changes to snow and ice pellets Sunday afternoon.

northwestern-health-unit-covid-clinic-mar-2021-5-1

Ontario Prepares For Future Public Health Emergencies

, , , , , ,

A Plan to Stay Open.

The province has released a strategy to deal with future public health emergencies.

Treasury Board President Prabmeet Sarkaria says it includes plans to recruit and retain more health care workers, making Ontario a producer of personal protective equipment and adding more hospital beds.

“Our plan to stay open is how the people will hold us accountable. It is how we will support our frontline health care heroes and is how we will give Ontarians of confidence and security of knowing that when a future pandemic emerges, Ontario will be prepared,” says Sarkaria.

A part of the plan is attracting more students to careers in health care and public health.

Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop says a new grant program hopes to achieve that goal.

“The grant will provide financial support to post-secondary students who enroll in high priority programs such as health, human resources and other critical care positions and commit to work in underserved communities when they graduate,” says Dunlop.

The province is also looking to make it easier for foreign-trained health care workers to work in Ontario.

A temporary wage enhancement for personal support workers and direct support workers will be made permanent.

More spaces will open up at Ontario’s medical schools to train more physicians.

The province is also focusing on the food supply chain by requiring more regular reports and the creation of temporary locations to handle deliveries during an emergency.

The province will also prohibit the resale of government-issued PPE.

During the pandemic, rapid tests protests provided to students were being sold online.

DD99787B-9E03-47ED-A56D-7E99684D5FD2

Fire Could Cause Fort Hope Evacuation

, , , , , , , ,

Fort Hope First Nation is declaring a State of Emergency because of a forest fire burning out of control west of the community.

While there is no immediate threat of fire, officials are concerned about smoke drifting into the area.

The community has announced they will start sending their most vulnerable people to safety, including elders, children, and people with certain medical conditions. A full evacuation is being considered.

It’s not yet known where the displaced residents will be housed.

Nipigon Fire 045 started Sunday afternoon and is listed at over 36 hundred hectares and not under control. Fire crews and water bombers are working the fire.

flags-1

Local Support And Planning Following Nova Scotia Shooting

, ,

The tragic shooting that happened this past weekend in northern Nova Scotia is seeing an outpouring of support and condolences from across the country.

That includes here in Dryden as flags at government buildings are at half-mast to recognize and pay tribute to the lives lost.

CKDR News reached out to Dryden’s Community Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Chief Rob Grimwood.

As well as offering his condolences Grimwood says they also sympathize with the first responders during the ordeal.

“We understand intimately how much stress is involved in responding to and dealing with a situation like that. It always gives us time to reflect and time to reassess our own capabilities and try and do what we can to prepare.”

Grimwood says the City has measures in place if a local emergency were to occur.

He notes the Fire Department is in the process of improving their patient care capability to be able to assist frontline personnel.

He adds police have their plan to assist in a mass casualty incident.

Grimwood stresses they have great communication with other first responders and the hospital to help ensure they have a well-implemented support system in place.

He adds over the past few weeks the Fire Service has been working to improve mental health supports.

“With the goal of reaching out to Dryden Police Service, OPP and Northwest EMS to try and bring all the different agencies together so that we can work together and develop a more robust support system.”

atikokanlogo-1-1

Atikokan Declares Local Emergency

, ,

A Local Emergency has been declared in Atikokan due to the coronavirus.

The decision was made Monday when the Atikokan Emergency Measures Community Group met and determined the action was necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their residents.

Officials say the declaration is needed to ensure the town has the necessary resources available to deal with the pandemic.

It also calls on the public to restrict gatherings and adhere to social distancing and proper hygiene recommendations.

Two residents were recently cleared of having the virus.

A COVID-19 Assessment Centre has been created at the Atikokan Family Health Team building at 101 Zuke Road.

Atikokan is the first northwestern Ontario municipality to declare a State of Emergency.

It supports the current Public Health recommendations that need to be followed including:

-Restricting gatherings
-Reinforcing social/physical distancing (at least 2 metres from each other)
-Reinforcing hand hygiene, disinfecting, and other protocols in place to prevent transmission
-Cough or sneeze into your arm
-If you have any symptoms; self-monitor and self-isolate, and contact a health care professional if symptoms persist
-If you have travelled outside Canada recently, you are required to follow the Federal Government Guidelines which includes self-isolation and monitoring.

Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact the Northwestern Health Unit COVID-19 hotline at 1-866-468-2240 or Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000.

For the latest information in Atikokan visit http://www.atikokan.ca

https://www.facebook.com/atikokantown/posts/2665103163617658

 

coronavirus-800x450-2

WHO Declares Coronavirus An Emergency

, , ,

The World Health Organization is declaring a public health emergency related to the coronavirus outbreak.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says it’s not because of what’s happening in China.

“But because of what is happening in other countries. Our greatest concern is the potential of the virus spreading to other countries with weaker health systems.”

There are 98 cases outside China, including three in Canada.

The virus has killed 213 people.

Adhanom Ghebreyesus stresses they are working diligently with their partners to bring this outbreak under control as fast as possible.

He notes one of the challenges right now is stopping the spread of false information about the outbreak.

BearskinFloodingPIc-2

Bearskin Lake Getting Break From Flooding

, , ,

The evacuation of Bearskin Lake First Nation has been put on hold after flood water from the Severn River has started to pull back.

On its’ Facebook page the Nishnawbe Aski Nation notes the community, about 425-kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, is using its own resources such as sandbags.

Kaspuskasing has still offered to take evacuees should the need arise.

The nursing station is in use, and the only way to drive along flooded roads is with large trucks.

NAN also states the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is considering ways to break up the ice from the river which caused a State of Emergency to be declared over the weekend.

That includes using explosives or heavy equipment.

ta-lock-down-1-800x450-2

New School Emergency Procedures Introduced

, , ,

Changes have been made to school emergency procedures in the Kenora district.

All of the terminology has been changed.

Provincial Police constable Jason Canfield says there are three responses.

Canfield says a ‘Lockdown School’ is the highest level of emergency and replaces a Code Red.

‘Secure School’ is the Medium Level Response, while ‘Shelter in Place’ is the Low Level Response.

Here is more information surrounding the new terminology:

1. Lockdown School-High Level Response
This is the highest level of response to a threat. Staff call 911, and everyone must remain silent, out of sight, with the lights off, and behind locked doors. Once police arrive, they take command of the school and direct the response. Once the school is released from Lockdown, a Secure School procedure is put in place.

Possible causes include but are not limited to:
-An intruder is suspected to be a possible threat to staff and student life or safety.
-Imminent danger is present on the school site and safety of all is threatened.
-Any other circumstance where the school principal needs to ensure student safety.

2. Secure School-Medium Level Response
This will be initiated when a potential threat exists inside or outside of the building. Staff and students must remain inside their classrooms with the doors closed and locked. All exterior school doors and windows will also be locked. Students who are outside the building or their classroom will be directed to the closest safe area of the building.

Possible causes include but are not limited to:
-Emergency situation inside the school where people moving around might prevent authorities from doing their job (police, fire, medical).
-Incident involving emergency response close to the school (traffic accident with serious injuries).
-An intruder is suspected to be a possible threat to staff or student safety.
-Possible medical situation where the school principal needs to ensure student safety.
-Investigation of a bomb threat, but immediate evacuation is not required.

3. Shelter in Place-Low Level Response
This will be initiated when a potential threat exists outside of the building. Staff and students must remain inside the locked school for safety reasons. Students who are outside will be brought inside immediately.

Possible causes include but are not limited to:
-Extreme weather (hailstorm, severe lightning, etc).
-Environmental issue (forest fire, gas leak, threatening wildfire, etc).
-Incident involving emergency response close to the school (traffic accident with serious injuries).
-Possible threatening situation which has not yet been investigated or confirmed.
-Any other circumstance where the school principal needs to ensure student safety.

 

moredam-1

Red Lake Declares Community Emergency

, , ,

An emergency has been declared in the Municipality of Red Lake.

The damage from Friday’s severe storm that wreaked wide spread havoc on the community can now be clearly seen.

The extreme wind conditions severely damaged municipal infrastructure, knocked out power, and uprooted a number of trees.

Debris blocked numerous roadways and driveways.

Mayor Fred Mota says fortunately no one was injured.

Mota notes municipal employees and community partners are currently evaluating the situation and have commenced the clean-up.

Centennial Park and the Dan Kutcheran Ball Field are both closed for public use until further notice.

T&J Harapiak have set up a pop and BBQ stand to help residents in obtaining a hot meal.

All proceeds will go to the Heritage Centre.

The roof of the building was ripped off in the storm.

Here is the official statement from the Municipality of Red Lake:

“10:05 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2019, Mayor Fred Mota issued a declaration of emergency pertaining to the severe weather event which occurred on Friday, September 20, 2019. Due to the extreme wind conditions, Municipal infrastructure has been damaged, a loss of hydro electricity, and numerous trees are down blocking roadways and driveways.

Mayor Mota states: “While we experience this extreme event, we are pleased to report that nobody was injured. This being said, I urge everyone to check in on their neighbours and assist people where possible during the power outage. Please use caution when out on our streets. Municipal employees along with community partners are currently evaluating the situation and have commenced the cleanup.”

Until further notice, please be advised that Centennial Park including the Dan Kutcheran ball field will be closed for public use.

For those requiring assistance and/or want to report a public safety concern, please call our Public Works after hours call in number at 807-727-2597

(Photo Credit: Marilyn Duncalfe)

Load More