Emergency Preparedness

Like all health units, we must have an up-to-date emergency preparedness program. Our goal is to face all emergencies in a consistent way, and to respond effectively.

To do this, we take the following steps:

• Identify and consider what emergencies could happen (risks and hazards)
• Develop a plan to keep our business running during an emergency (continuity of operations plan )
• Create and keep an up-to-date emergency response plan
• Develop and implement protocols that keep us notified 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Increase public awareness about emergency preparedness
• Provide education and training for Public Health staff
• Orient Board of Health officials to the emergency response plan
• Practice putting our plans and notification systems into place

When emergencies happen, we provide guidance to the community to protect human health. We also work to prevent emergencies from happening. Some of the ways we do this are:

• Inspecting locations where food is prepared and served
• Inspecting drinking water systems
• Managing outbreaks of disease
• Immunizing against diseases that could spread quickly in our community

Risks and hazards in Wellington, Dufferin, and Guelph

Here are some of the emergency situations we might face in our local communities.

Weather emergencies: floods, severe storms, tornadoes, cold weather

Common in southwestern Ontario, things like heavy rain, tornadoes, and snowstorms can be serious enough to cause an emergency. They can also cause damage to essential services or resources like power lines.

Read more from GetPrepared.gc.ca and the Ministry of Natural Resources:

• Tornadoes
• Severe Storms
• Seven Steps to Cold Weather Safety
• Preparing for a Flood
• Power Outages

Disease outbreaks and pandemics

An outbreak is the sudden onset of a disease in a specific group of people. An outbreak can become a pandemic when the disease spreads around the world.

Read more:

• Ontario Health Plan for Influenza Pandemic
• Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan
• Public Health Agency of Canada – Pandemic Preparedness
• Public health Agency of Canada – Infectious Diseases
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Animal Diseases

Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and environmental emergencies

Emergencies can happen when a dangerous substance is released into the air, ground, or water.

Read more:

• Nuclear Emergencies – Emergency Management Ontario
• Chemical Releases – Government of Canada

Preparing your business or workplace for emergencies

Use these resources to make sure your workplace is prepared. For more information, contact Tracey Croft, Manager of Emergency Preparedness at 1-800-265-7293, ext. 5610.

• City of Guelph Business Continuity planning “Tool Kit” (PDF)

For healthcare providers

• Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector              
• Influenza Pandemic Planning for Health Care Professionals - Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care