You know what they say: “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” which is why Ontario recently invested more than $380,000 in improving emergency preparedness in Parry Sound–Muskoka.
The considerable sum has been divided among nine communities: Huntsville, Magnetawan, Perry, McDougall, Kearney, McMurrich/Monteith, Restoule, Shawanaga First Nation, and Wasauksing First Nation.
“I’m thankful that our government is recognizing the increasing need for municipalities to be able to respond to emergencies,” said MPP Graydon Smith in the press release. “Emergencies can strike at any time and in many different ways. Having the right equipment, training, and strategies in place is vital to minimizing the impact from emergency situations. We should be very thankful to the many emergency service employees and volunteers in our communities that play a pivotal role in keeping us all safe.”
Funds are being delivered via the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant, which improves emergency preparedness by funding local emergency management training, purchasing critical equipment, and improving infrastructure to make communities more resilient, according to the release. This year, 114 Ontario communities qualified for the grant, following a “rigorous and competitive review process.”
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In Huntsville, where $50,000 was granted to purchase better communications equipment, such as two-way radios and a repeater station, Mayor Nancy Alcock emphasizes the need for enhanced services in remote areas.
“Huntsville’s natural rural setting has a considerable impact on our emergency preparations and operations,” she said in a press release. “Thanks to the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant, the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department now has more reliable communication devices to ensure our responders can communicate when they need it most, no matter how remote their location. This investment has a tangible impact on the safety of our first responders and our residents—whether they’re right in town or far from cellular service.”
The recipient communities have received grants ranging from $9,750 to $50,000 and each have funneled them into different emergency preparedness needs.
In Wasauksing First Nation, which was also allotted $50,000, the fund went towards emergency materials, such as a pop-up tent, chainsaws, laptops, and a drone and radios to assist when dealing with storms, high winds, snow, and ice. Meanwhile, in the Township of McMurrich/Monteith, a portion of their $49,518 grant went towards purchasing sandbags for spring flooding, and the Township of Perry spent their $42,570 on a backup generator to provide power to the community centre shelter during emergencies.
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On top of the $380,000, Ontario has also announced the construction of a new Ontario Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters intended to support public safety and disaster response measures, including the volunteer response organization Ontario Corps.
“A safe and prepared Ontario comes when communities and organizations have the resources they need to respond efficiently and effectively in times of crisis,” said Jill Dunlop, the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, in a release. “I saw first-hand, during the recent ice storms, how our community and the entire province are stronger when we have the capacity to come together to support each other and respond quickly when disaster strikes.”
Full list of Community Emergency Preparedness Grant recipients and their purchases:
1) Township of Huntsville: $50,000
Purchase communications equipment including two-way radios and a repeater station. The funding also covers the training that will ensure the effective operation of the new equipment.
2) Municipality of Magnetawan: $48,385
Purchase a backup generator to provide continuous power for the local emergency operations centre, communications equipment, and drones to enhance surveillance capabilities.
3) Township of Perry: $42,570
Purchase and install a backup generator to provide power to the community centre shelter during emergencies.
4) Municipality of McDougall: $9,750
Purchase a new drone to assist in wildland fire response and search and rescue efforts.
5) Town of Kearney: $41,272
Purchase wildland fire equipment such as hoses, pumps, tanks, drones, fuel lines, and other supplies. Training will be delivered to ensure the safe operation of the new equipment.
6) Township of McMurrich/Monteith: $49,518
Enhance the emergency operations centre by purchasing tablets, electronics, and satellite phones, and upgrading the generator. Sandbags will also be purchased to prepare for spring flooding.
7) Local Services Board of Restoule: $43,069
Purchase two-way radios and programmable signage, and develop an emergency plan and website to relay emergency information.
8) Shawanaga First Nation: $46,625
Purchase and install two backup generators at Shawanaga First Nation’s Finance Trailer and Main Administration Building to ensure the continuous operation of critical services during power outages.
9) Wasauksing First Nation: $50,000
Purchase a pop-up tent, chainsaws, laptops, a drone, and radios to enhance emergency preparedness when dealing with storms, high winds, snow, and ice.
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