Emergency Operations Centre

City building

The City of Peterborough may activate the Emergency Operations Centre for any emergency in order to manage the emergency situation and maintain services to the community. We can activate the Centre without the formal declaration of a community emergency.

If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.

A declared community emergency

The Mayor or Acting Mayor of the City, as the head of City Council, is responsible for declaring an emergency.

When an emergency is declared or terminated, the Mayor notifies:

  • Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, Ministry of the Solicitor General
  • Council
  • County Warden, as appropriate
  • Public
  • Neighbouring community officials, as required
  • Local member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)
  • Local member of Parliament (MP)

Emergency Control Group

The Emergency Control Group is a group of officials who are responsible for coordinating the provision of the essential services necessary to minimize the effects of an emergency on the community.

The group includes officials such as:

  • the Mayor
  • the City's Chief Administrative Officer
  • the Emergency Management Coordinator
  • the Emergency Information Officer
  • Information Technology
  • the Police Chief
  • the Fire Chief
  • the Paramedics Chief
  • the Medical Officer of Health

Depending on the emergency, the Emergency Control Group may function with all or certain members of the group.

Emergency Control Group responsibilities
  • Calling out and mobilizing emergency services, agency and equipment; Coordinating and directing services and ensuring that any actions necessary for the mitigation of the effects of the emergency are taken, provided they are not contrary to law;
  • Determining if the location and composition of the Emergency Control Group are appropriate;
  • Advising the Mayor as to whether the declaration of an emergency is recommended;
  • Advising the Mayor on the need to designate all or part of the community as an emergency area;
  • Ensuring that Site Command is appointed;
  • Ensuring support to the Site Command by offering equipment, staff and resources, as required;
  • Ordering, coordinating and/or overseeing the evacuation of inhabitants considered to be in danger;
  • Discontinuing utilities or services provided by public or private concerns, i.e. hydro, water, gas, closing down a shopping plaza/mall;
  • Arranging for services and equipment from local agencies not under community control i.e. private contractors, industry, volunteer agencies, service clubs; Notifying, requesting assistance from and/or liaison with various levels of government and any public or private agencies not under community control, as considered necessary;
  • Determining if additional volunteers are required and if appeals for volunteers are warranted;
  • Determining if additional transport is required for evacuation or transport of persons and/or supplies;
  • Ensuring that pertinent information regarding the emergency is promptly forwarded to the Emergency Information Officer, for dissemination to the media and public;
  • Determining the need to establish advisory groups and/or subcommittees/working groups for any aspect of the emergency including recovery;
  • Authorizing expenditure of money required for dealing with the emergency;
  • Notifying the service, agency or group under their direction, of the termination of the emergency;
  • Maintaining a log outlining decisions made and actions taken;
  • Participating in the debriefing following the emergency.