Emergency Planning and Response Exercise a Success

Operation Communications (OP-COMM), an emergency planning and response exercise coordinated by Newfoundland and Labrador Fire and Emergency Services (NLFES) during scheduled repairs to Aliant�s telecommunications system, has concluded. The Honourable Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal Affairs today recognized the benefits of the comprehensive exercise and congratulated the many organizations and volunteers that ensured its success.

�The telecommunication interruption of October 20, 2006, highlighted a weakness in emergency response capabilities and re-enforced the importance for the province, municipalities, industries, and individuals to pre-plan for potential emergencies,� said Minister Byrne. �Operation Communications created an opportunity for potentially affected organizations and communities, to assess their capability to communicate with emergency response agencies and citizens or employees, should an emergency occur during an interruption in normal telecommunications service. I congratulate all who participated in this valuable exercise for their time and expertise.�

OP-COMM became operational at 10:00 p.m. on November 26, 2006. The plan provided alternative communications methods for areas that could potentially have been affected if a telecommunications outage occurred during the repairs. OP-COMM coordinated, at strategic locations within the province, communications capability via ham radio operators, and in three locations enabled communications by providing satellite telephones. The operation also provided for activation and staffing of the provincial EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), and the manning of the communications station at the provincial EOC. The communications room at the EOC functioned as the critical link to the radio operators and the satellite phones, if a call for emergency services or other critical services was required.

�Municipalities, private industries, and the province were provided the opportunity to establish and pre-test a variety of communication modes,� said Fred Hollett, director of NLFES. �The pre-planning phase identified opportunities to test capabilities such as wireless radio links. As well the abilities of different satellite systems were tested and corrective measures implemented where possible. These links were found to be critical during a telecommunications failure. We now have a tested emergency plan in place in the event of any future telecommunications interruption.�

Minister Byrne commended Aliant for the successful completion of the repairs and their cooperation throughout the planning and operational phases of the exercise. �The cooperation and details provided by Aliant enabled NLFES to pre-plan for the repair period, and facilitate this valuable learning exercise. While contingency plans were operational, Aliant was successful in maintaining full telecommunications services during the repairs.�

Minister Byrne also extended appreciation to the Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Radio Operators for their role in the exercise. �The Newfoundland and Labrador amateur radio operators volunteered their time and equipment which enabled the emergency communications network that was established. Their skills and support were critical to the operation.�

Amateur radio operators outside of the province, in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario, were also functioning in support of OP-COMM, by providing important relay points as required from time to time due to atmospheric conditions on occasion.

Aliant advised NLFES at 3:55 a.m., November 29, 2006, that all electrical work related to the fire damaged equipment was successfully and fully completed. Shortly after, Operation Communications also concluded.

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Media Contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communication
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2006 11 30                                       10:55 a.m.