Justice and Public Safety
April 14, 2015

Strengthening Communities Through Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Exercise Validates Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s Municipal Emergency Plan

The Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s, with the support of Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador (FES-NL) and other emergency management agencies, participated in an emergency exercise today (Tuesday, April 14). The exercise was an opportunity to validate the town�s emergency management plan and its emergency response capabilities.

�The key to effectively addressing an emergency is to first have an emergency management plan, then practise and validate the plan regularly. Since 2012, as part of the new Emergency Service Act, communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have been required to develop an emergency management plan. To date, 282 communities, representing 90 per cent of our province�s population, have an approved emergency management plan, and efforts are ongoing to support the remaining communities. Today�s exercise in the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s is a fine example of how emergency management plans can be validated and strengthened for the benefit of residents and businesses. I commend the town and its partners on undertaking such a valuable initiative.�
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador

The exercise, titled �Smoked Out�, included both live and simulated scenarios. The town�s Emergency Operations Centre was brought online and its emergency management plan was activated. The simulated wildfire affected Beachy Cove Elementary School. Children from the school participated in an evacuation to a reception centre at the Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s Recreation Centre on Thorburn Road, as would be done in a real emergency. The children were aware of the exercise in advance. The children spent the rest of the morning learning about emergency preparedness and how to assemble an emergency kit, while emergency response agencies continued with the exercise. The exercise concluded around 12:00 p.m. and participants then convened a meeting to discuss the exercise and its outcomes.

�The Town of Portugal Cove- St. Philip�s was excited to be involved in this exercise. It is important that we work with our emergency management partners to test and validate our emergency response capabilities for the benefit of the residents of our community. We were pleased with the outcome and look forward to reviewing the scenario and improving our response capabilities for the future as a result of this exercise.�
- Mayor Moses Tucker, Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s

More information about municipal emergency management planning is available at www.gov.nl.ca/fes/emo/municipalplanning.html. In addition, communities throughout the province that want to expand their knowledge or practise their municipal emergency management plan are encouraged to contact FES-NL at 709-729-3703.

QUICK FACTS

• Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s, and other emergency response agencies participated in an emergency exercise today titled �Smoked Out�.
• The exercise was undertaken to validate the town�s emergency management plan and emergency response capabilities.
• All communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have a legislated requirement under the Emergency Services Act to develop an emergency management plan.
• In total 282 communities, representing approximately 90 per cent of the population of Newfoundland and Labrador have an emergency management plan already in place.

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Media contacts:

Bradley Power Public Relations Specialist Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-0857, 690-1810 bradleypower@gov.nl.ca

Jeff Lawlor Director of Economic Development, Marketing and Communications Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s 709-895-8000, ext.222 Jeff.Lawlor@pcsp.ca

2015 04 14                              12:20 p.m.