Drumheller and surrounding counties have secured $125,000 from the provincial government to create an emergency master plan to be used in the case of regional emergencies, it was announced on April 4 at town council.
The Emergency Master Plan would provide crisis managers in Drumheller, and the counties of Kneehill, Starland, Wheatland, and Special Areas with a comprehensive document detailing pertinent information and available resources to these administrations in the event of an emergency such as flood or fire.
“You can’t overestimate how important it is for the crisis manager to be working with current data in the event of an emergency,” said Mayor Terry Yemen.
“It gives decision makers the opportunity to know exactly what is available to them, not only resources coming to Drumheller but our resources and equipment going to our partners.”
“This is a large area we are talking about, from Drumheller right up to the Saskatchewan border.”
Protective Services Director Greg Peters, who would likely be the crisis manager in emergency situations, said these agreements are already in place but a comprehensive emergency plan document “will narrow down exact information and the collective memory of people who will retire and who will take that information and expertise with them.”
The town was approved through the Alberta Community Partnership program to update the Emergency Services Master Plan project. The timeline for developing the plan is still in its infancy but work on the plan will be tendered out.
