Emergency Services and Safety

Emergency management

Peterborough is a leader in community emergency preparedness and emergency management. We have a robust Emergency Response Plan and we regularly bring our emergency management group together for exercises and training.

As a community, we need to be prepared for potential high-risk incidents such as major storms, flooding, and public health emergencies as well as accidents and intentional acts that could have major implications for public safety and property in our community.

Emergencies and disasters can happen anywhere, at any time. There are two types of emergencies and disasters: natural (i.e. a severe weather related event such as a tornado) and human caused (i.e. a car accident caused by driver error). Sometimes we have prior warning; but many times we don't. It's important to be prepared and review our Emergency Response Plan and the role of the Emergency Operations Centre.

Public Inquiry Line

During a declared emergency or a significant incident, the City of Peterborough will activate its Public Inquiry Line to provide important information and updates about the emergency situation.

The Public Inquiry Line phone number is 705-876-4636.

You can call the Public Inquiry Line during a declared emergency or significant incident to get information or to report a non-life-threatening problem related to the emergency situation. The Public Inquiry Line is not intended to replace 9-1-1 calls.

During emergency situations, please tune into local media outlets – radio, television, print and online local media outlets – as another source of regular updates. We provide regular updates to our local media in the event of an emergency as a way to help get the information to you.

Emergency Operations Centre

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.

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.