Putting theory into practice
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Vaughan tests emergency preparedness in annual exercise
Emergencies can
happen any time and anywhere – and the City of Vaughan is ready to respond. The
City held its annual emergency exercise recently to practice the response and
recovery phases of a potential disaster.
This year’s exercise
focused on assessing the situation and incident action planning as well as
continuity of business operations in the event of a prolonged situation. The
City is committed to training and development in order to ensure that members
of its Emergency Management Team have the knowledge, skills and ability to
successfully respond to and recover from an emergency.
Vaughan has
experienced unexpected natural disasters throughout the years, including the
2009 tornadoes and the December 2013 ice storm. In each case, the City responded
immediately to the emergency, and provided for the care and safety of citizens
to ensure they could return to their routines as quickly as possible.
QUOTE
“The safety of our
residents is our top priority, and these annual exercises demonstrate our
commitment to being proactive and prepared for any kind of emergency. We are
not immune from the kinds of incidents that can cause widespread damage, which
we experienced with the 2009 tornado and the December 2013 ice storm. As Vaughan
continues to grow, our challenges in managing an emergency will expand and
change. I am confident in our Emergency Management Team and our efforts to keep
our entire community safe and secure.”
-Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
QUICK FACTS
- Emergency Management Programs are based on developing plans to address hazards and threats specific to a community.
- The City has an Emergency Management Team with 120 staff who fill a range of roles from first response and citizen care to public information and logistics. All are committed to protecting the safety of citizens and all responders.
- There are a number of natural hazards that the City could face including severe flooding, tornadoes, ice storms, wildfires, and extreme heat and cold events.
- On Aug. 20, 2009, the City declared a state of emergency after tornadoes hit communities in Maple and Woodbridge. In total, approximately 600 homes in the city suffered some form of damage.
- The December 2013 ice storm caused widespread damage across the city and the loss of thousands of trees.
LEARN MORE
Members of the Emergency Management Team receiving an update on the situation.