How Emergency Operations Centres Work

A fire that consumed two houses in the northern part of Wakaw, Sask. on June 15 exemplified the importance of emergency planning.

No one wants an emergency to occur, but preplanning and preparedness facilitate effective management when dangers exist.

The house fires happened just two blocks from the busy Farmer’s Market, so Fire Chief Baker activated the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), a part of the Town of Wakaw’s Emergency Measures Plan.

The EOC outlines roles and responsibilities during emergencies and coordinates and supports incident management activities, including emergency response, business continuity, and crisis communications.

Based on the internationally used Incident Command System, a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, the EOC provides a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can work effectively. 

The routine, day-to-day management of government differs greatly from emergency operations.

During an emergency, effective decision-making relies on leaders’ ability to collect emergency-related information promptly, which requires close coordination between key officials from various departments, agencies and organizations.

An Emergency Operations Centre is essential for coordinating and directing emergency efforts across multiple agencies.

The main objectives of an EOC are to provide continuity and communications throughout an event or incident; coordinate responding local, regional, and provincial agencies, organizations, and companies; manage data and general and public information utilizing recognized forms and channels; provide resources and personnel; and deal with immediate expenses.

During the emergency, the Town of Wakaw staff worked with SaskWater to boost water pressure in the hydrants. They also shared important updates on social media, set up a rest area for the firefighters, and provided them with water and food during the long hours of fighting the fire. 

Emergency management is not just for organizations, it is for individuals too.

Emergency management begins with prevention and preparedness.

Emergency preparedness, as the name suggests, is all about being ready for an emergency. This means putting into place plans and procedures to help respond quickly and effectively to any emergency and not reacting blindly.

According to the Government of Canada’s Get Prepared, every Canadian household needs an emergency plan so everyone knows what to do in an emergency.

Families may not be together when an emergency occurs, and a personal emergency management plan should include how to meet or contact one another if an emergency occurs. It should also involve discussions about what to do in different situations and how to keep all members safe.

Always be prepared for emergencies by having a plan and supplies, including food, water, and medicine, and an emergency evacuation or disaster preparedness plan ready.

Have an emergency kit and supplies in a safe shelter where family members can take refuge in case of severe weather, such as a tornado. 

Make copies of birth and marriage certificates, passports, licences, wills, land deeds, insurance, medical documents, and the previous two years’ tax forms and NOAs. Take photos of family members in the event they go missing. Place copies in a fireproof, safe place, inside and outside the home.

In the event of an evacuation, remember that not all public shelters or hotels allow pets. Be prepared to bring pets to a friend or relative’s home or research pet-friendly hotels and boarding facilities nearby.

Once the emergency is over, people need help to recover.

This may mean providing necessities like clothing, shelter, and food, but it also means emotional support.

The American Psychological Association notes that it is common for people to experience several emotional stages of adjustment following a residential fire, including shock, anger, depression, and hopelessness.

The home is a place of security, comfort, and safety. After a fire, this sense of security can be lost, and a significant disruption to the normality of daily life occurs. Precious mementos are lost, especially in the event of a fire, and telling a fire-loss victim that it was “just stuff” negates their sense of loss.

Fire-loss victims agree a toaster is ‘stuff’ and a coffeemaker is ‘stuff’, but the photo albums with pictures of departed family members are not ‘stuff’, nor are mementos of special occasions with special people. 

According to research, children and adolescents can react in a variety of ways when dealing with the aftermath of a fire, including experiencing anxiety, nightmares and sleep disorders.

A child’s coping ability is highly influenced by how their parents and caregivers deal with a crisis. Because children often look to adults for guidance, support, and information, adults need to find strategies to help themselves cope successfully with the trauma. Be open to children sharing their thoughts, concerns, and ideas, and encourage them to return to their normal routines, including playtime. 

An emergency is any serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. It could be a residential fire, a wildland fire, or severe weather resulting from climate change.

For more emergency preparedness information, visit getprepared.gc.ca

This story was originally published in The Wakaw Reporter. It is republished under a Creative Commons license as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.