Mutual Aid in AlbertaNext Steps

What I will cover

PurposeSome History Think Tank PotentialRequest

Purpose• Convince a Municipal Fire Chief and an

Industrial Fire Chief to attend Mutual Aid “think tank” on July 5th in Red Deer.

• Update Mutual Aid collaboration in Alberta

Current Mutual Aid groups SD MAP Strathcona District Mutual

Assistance Program SPOG Sundre Petroleum Operators

Group EAPUOC Edmonton Area Pipeline

& Utility Operator’s Committee C-REPP CMA Chinchaga Mutual Aid WCSS Western Canada Spill

Services CMAC Clearwater Mutual Aid Co-op CMAG County of Mountainview

Mutual Aid Group RMWB RM of Wood Buffalo Mutual

Aid

EMAC Edson Mutual Aid Co-op

NR CAER Northeast Region Community Awareness Emergency Response

SO MAG Sunchild / O’Chiese Area Producers Mutual Aid Group

FMAC Foothills Mutual Aid Coop

HMAP Hardisty Mutual Aid Plan

LCMAO Lacombe County Mutual Aid Organzation

PAOG Pembina Area Operator’s Group

History• Mutual Aid has been active in Alberta for decades• First Mutual Aid Roundtable (Synergy Conf 2009)• Identified benefits• Challenges• Potential Solutions

• Second Mutual Aid Roundtable (Synergy Conf 2010)• Formal presentations: Grande Prairie Regional Emergency

Partnership (Municipal only), SPOG (industry only) and NR CAER (municipal/industry combined)

• Task group struck to provide recommendations to improve Alberta system for managing emergencies through greater collaboration

• Funding by AEMA and ERCB• Facilitation through Synergy Alberta

HistoryTask Force Progress (Jan – June -2011)

Developed on-line resource for contact information and document (best practice) repository

Surveyed mutual aid groups (low response)Task Force Progress (Sept-May 2012)

Hosted a one day training forum focusing on mutual aidApprox. 100 attendees of emergency management

professionals from industry, municipalities, government and regulatory bodies

Surveyed attendees on their perspective of Mutual Aid

HistorySurvey Results – top three

Annual Mutual Aid Forum – training & networking event

Consistent framework for mutual aid group interface with municipalities and regulators

A full day think tank/discussion on mutual aid – where do we go from here?

Using input received to guide conversations, a one day think tank session has been scheduled for July 5

Think TankWho should participate in the Think Tank?

AEMAASERT/AEW/SRDProvincial Regulators ERCB, AB

TransportationEmergency Management groups within the

province: mutual aid organizations; industry, TransCAER, Alberta Fire Chiefs, Fire Commissioners Office, Industrial Fire Chiefs, CAPP

Think Tank – one day sessionWhy Consider a Provincial Mutual Aid

network?Enhance response/safety of Alberta

communitiesEffective and consistently understood

response systemBest practices transfer and continuous

improvement (lessons learned are not lessons lost)

Promote mutual aid group development (value proposition)

Others?

Think TankWhat Needs could “Mutual Aid Alberta” address?

Common framework for mutual aid organizations:Consistent interface with government/regulatorsTraining and exercise standardsMinimum resources – trained responders, equipment

Document repository – access best practices from established groups; idea sharing; contact information

Centralized Resident Data Collection system province wideCommon Resident Emergency Notification province wideAnnual networking/training opportunity (repeat Forum)Mutual aid perspective on emerging issues/advisory groupOthers?

Think TankHow can “Mutual Aid Alberta” succeed?

Dedicated resources: human and financial (great to talk, but need follow up ‘action’)

Organization/committee mandate; strong terms of reference to provide clarity on what “Mutual Aid Alberta” will or won’t engage in.

Questions

Back to my PurposeTo convince a Municipal Fire Chief and an

Industrial Fire Chief to attend the Mutual Aid “think tank” session on July 5th in Red Deer.