Definition of An Emergency Response Plan:

An Emergency Response Plan is a plan of action for the efficient deployment and coordination of services, agencies and personnel to provide the earliest possible response to an emergency.

Responsibilities Within the Region of Waterloo:

There are seven local municipalities each with their own Emergency Response Plans. The local municipalities have the responsibility to supply the initial response to an emergency.

The Region of Waterloo Emergency Response Plan will be activated when:

the Mayor or Acting Mayor of an affected Municipality requests that the Regional Emergency Response Plan be implemented; or
the emergency affects a large portion of inhabitants of more than one local municipality; or
the emergency requires extraordinary actions or expenditure of monies by one or more regional services for the protection of property, health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the community.

When deemed necessary, the Mayor of a local municipality will contact the Region of Waterloo to request the Regional Emergency Altering System be activated. This Alerting System calls together members of the Regional Emergency Control Group.

Members of the Regional Emergency Control Group include:

Regional Chair
Mayor of affected community
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Assistant CAO, Human Resources
Chief of Police
Regional Fire Coordinator
Fire Chief of affected community
Director of Corporate Communications
Manager of Emergency Measures
Commissioner of Transportation and Environmental Services
Commissioner of Social Services
Medical Officer of Health
Director of Emergency Medical Services
Hydro Coordinator
Additional members are also requested to join the Control Group, based on the scope and nature of the emergency. The additional members may be representatives from the Grand River Conservation Authority, Ontario Provincial Police, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Labour, Hospitals (Cambridge Memorial, Grand River, and St Mary's), the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (Emergency Management Ontario) , or other officials or experts.

The Regional Emergency Control Group will guide the emergency response activities from the Regional Emergency Operations Centre. Serious emergencies require coordination beyond that needed for more routine responses to community problems. Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) serve as the master coordination and control point for an emergency response. The Region of Waterloo and each area municipality in Waterloo Region have a primary and alternate EOC.

Declaration of an Emergency

Emergency Control Groups can be called together for meetings, trainings or exercises, and to coordinate a response to an emergency situation (declared and not declared). Emergencies are declared by the head of Council (Regional Chair or Mayor) to:

Alert the public to a serious emergency situation so they take the necessary actions asked of them.
Protect those volunteers who have been registered to assist with the emergency, so they are covered by WSIB.
Meet the criteria to receive the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).

How are Clothing, Food and Shelter Managed During Emergencies?

When citizens are forced from their homes during an emergency, Region of Waterloo Social Services is ready to help with its Social Services Emergency Response Plan(SSERP). The aim of the SSERP is to outline a plan of action for the efficient deployment and coordination of services, agencies, and personnel to provide the earliest possible initial response to meet the survival needs of vulnerable individuals during and after an emergency. These basic survival needs include shelter (reception or evacuation centers as needed), feeding, clothing, personal services (including emotional supports) and registration and inquiry.

In small scale emergency situations that result in fewer than 50 displaced persons, the First Response Protocol is activated. Social Services partners with the Canadian Red Cross Society to provide shelter, food, clothing and emotional supports to those in need. Local fire departments and/or police will automatically contact the Canadian Red Cross in small scale emergency situations to provide assistance for those who need it as quickly as possible. Grand River Transit may also be asked to provide buses to transport victims to a temporary shelter if necessary.

For larger scale emergencies, Social Services has partnered with the municipalities and school boards to ensure that evacuation sites have been designated to shelter and feed people forced from their homes during larger emergency situations. Social Services sets up a reception centre for individuals until they can get back to their homes. In emergencies of a longer duration, sleeping accommodations would also be set up.

The work of Emergency Social Services within the SSERP is done in conjunction with many other partners within the community, such as, but not limited to, Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, St. John Ambulance, Humane Society, Amateur Radio Clubs, and other human service oriented agencies.

Within the reception or evacuation centre, assistance includes feeding and clothing as well as personal services. Personal Services includes the provision of first aid, reunification of children or dependent adults with family members, and emotional supports to individuals that may have been traumatized by the emergency or events.