The City has two priorities during an emergency:
- Save lives and prevent injuries:
The first and foremost priority is keeping citizens safe.
- Protect critical infrastructure:
We must ensure water treatment facilities, electrical systems, communication infrastructure and public transportation remain operational, or we severely compromise response to and recovery from disaster.
One
of the significant accomplishments of 2013 was the ability to continue to
deliver quality drinking water despite the turbid condition of the rivers.
The
City undertakes a number of activities each year to ensure that our
critical business functions will either continue to operate or recover rapidly
despite serious incidents or disasters, and that critical infrastructure and
public safety are protected.
Temporary
Barriers
Each spring
construction crews responsible for installing temporary barriers review their
plans, conduct site visits and identify obstacles that may be of concern. With
this information crews can accurately determine which barriers need to be built
first to maximize protection from potential flooding. This information is then
shared with supervisors and foremen to ensure the Water team is prepared to act
in event of an emergency. Construction crews will also assemble flood kits and
practice deployment of barriers.
Field
Readiness
Field crews
operate and monitor outfall gates year-round to protect our infrastructure, and
to mitigate potential damage resulting from ice jams and floods. Prior to flood
season valves that control water mains adjacent to or under the river are
tested to ensure they respond immediately should an emergency shutdown be
required. Outfall Operation and Pumping
Plans are updated as required to support temporary barrier plans, and lift
station resilience plans are also reviewed. Finally, crews prepare and
pre-position pumps and other emergency supplies to facilitate prompt response
once barriers are in place.
Training
& Exercise
The Incident
Command System (ICS) has been adopted across the world as the premier system
for managing emergencies regardless of their size, location or complexity. Since 2013, 175 Water Services employees have completed over four thousand hours training in ICS and
emergency response, followed up with a series of exercises to put what they’ve
learned into practice. This commitment
to training and exercise ensures that Water Services is ready to quickly identify,
evaluate and respond to any emergency. In the event of an emergency the Water
Emergency Operations Centre is activated, who then work closely with Calgary Emergency Management Agency and the Municipal Emergency Operations Centre
(EOC).