A new Regional Emergency Management Partnership Agreement that will enhance disaster response in the region has been signed by Lethbridge County and the towns of Coalhurst, Picture Butte and Nobleford.
Lethbridge County Regional Manager of Emergency Services Heath Wright says the partnership focuses mainly on major events, including wildfires, hazardous material releases, flooding and other incidences that would threaten the public’s safety.
According to Wright, the partnership will also provide equal access to standardized emergency training for municipal staff. “Who need to manage these incidences.”
“Emergency management staff will be able to respond to the community, where needed, during significant incidences,” Wright adds.
The partnership, Wright notes, will streamline processes by creating consistent emergency management procedures across all communities.
The next steps for the partnership, Wright says, will include reviewing emergency processes to identify gaps and organizing additional training for emergency management staff.
“Emergency management is about preparation and that’s worldwide known. We’ve had a lot of incidences in our area and across Canada. To have a united front and to have the partnership, strength and collaboration is instrumental during some of the worst days of our lives,” says Wright.
To have the ability to reach out for resources or for labour force is imperative. “To make sure we all come together, we all have the same training and we’re all talking from the same book,” Wright explains. “We’re much stronger together than we are a part.”
