Emergency Management and OMAFRA

Emergency Management

Author:	Dave Nodwell - Manager, Emergency Management/OMAFRA
Creation Date:	01 August 2007
Last Reviewed:	01 August 2007

Emergency management in the Ontario Public Service is based on a risk management approach and includes activities in four components: mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. OMAFRA's emergency and response plans follow this model.

Mitigation/Prevention refers to the actions taken to reduce or eliminate the effects of an emergency (mitigation), or the actions taken to prevent the emergency itself (prevention). As part of its mitigation and prevention efforts OMAFRA works closely with industry and government partners to identify actions that minimize the risk of emergencies occurring.
Preparedness refers to measures taken before an emergency occurs to ensure an effective response. OMAFRA has worked with industry and government partners on plans outlining response activities for several different types of emergencies. These include the ministry's Food and Agricultural Emergency Response Plan, and the federal government's Foreign Animal Disease Emergency Response Plan. OMAFRA conducts regular exercises in partnership with other agencies that test emergency plans to ensure they remain relevant and up-to-date.
Response refers to measures taken to respond to an emergency to ensure that a controlled, coordinated, and effective response is quickly undertaken to minimize its impact on public safety. OMAFRA has had the opportunity to assist with the response to several emergencies, including the Hagersville tire fire in 1990 and the eastern Ontario ice storm of 1998. Annual exercises help to ensure that the ministry is ready to respond when needed.
Recovery refers to those measures taken to assist individuals, businesses and communities to return to a state of normalcy following an emergency. Recovery measures include environmental clean-up, return of evacuees, emergency financial assistance, and stress counselling.

In addition to helping stakeholders during specific emergencies, OMAFRA has developed its own Business Continuity Plan. This plan includes measures that will ensure the continued delivery of essential ministry services in the event of an emergency that might affect service delivery, such as a large-scale power outage.

Emergency Management Staff

A Ministry Emergency Management Program Committee (MEMPC) oversees the development of the OMAFRA's emergency management program, in accordance with Ontario's emergency management program standards. The work of the MEMPC is supported across the ministry by different divisions. Various working groups are struck to tackle specific topics as needed.

OMAFRA has a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week notification protocol to ensure prompt notification and response to any business continuity or agricultural emergency. The response to all emergency incidents is directed by the Ministry Action Group (MAG) that coordinates activities and makes decisions regarding emergency responses and ensures proper internal and external communications with government, stakeholders, and the public.

The Ministry Emergency Operations Centre (MEOC) provides an integrated environment of information management and communication tools required to respond to emergencies in a time when speed and efficiency are critical.

The ministry's Emergency Management Unit (EMU) includes the Manager of the Emergency Management Program, an Emergency Management Coordinator, a Business Continuity Planning Coordinator and two Emergency Management Analysts. The EMU operates as a team and engages in the ministry's emergency planning and response.

All EMU members are trained in emergency management through Emergency Management Ontario and the Disaster Recovery Institute of Canada in Business Continuity Management.

The EMU works with other divisions and branches throughout the ministry to ensure that response plans are in place to facilitate the delivery of time-critical services in the event of a business continuity interruption. As well, the EMU works with experts from within the ministry and a variety of stakeholder groups to prepare for agricultural emergencies involving farm animal disease, food contamination and agricultural plant disease and pest infestation.

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For more information:
Dave Nodwell (519) 826-4974
Email: dave.nodwell@ontario.ca

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This information is provided as a public service, but we cannot guarantee that the information is current or accurate.
Readers should verify the information before acting on it.

Feedback and technical inquiries to:ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
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