‘Mock disaster’ exercise held in Oyen

By Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Your West Central Voice

OYEN—Town of Oyen residents may have noticed an increased emergency management presence in the community June 22 as a regional emergency management exercise took place. In past years, such an exercise may have been referred to as a “mock disaster.”

The Special Areas Regional Emergency Management Partnership (SA-REMP) conducted the event with its partners, including the Villages of Consort, Empress, Veteran and Youngstown, the Towns of Hanna and Oyen, and the M.D. of Acadia.

Special Areas Regional Emergency Management Partnership (SA-REMP) exercises like the one held in Oyen on June 22 can help reduce or avoid emergencies such as the CFB Suffield wildfire in 2017. PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS BOARD/CAM KLATT.

Before the exercise, Town of Oyen Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Sacha Martens confirmed the municipality would serve as the site of the “live-action” event, along with many partners in regional emergency management. She said residents who observed significant activity should view it much like an emergency phone test.

“This is a test alert only,” Martens said before the exercise, noting such exercises are mandated by the Government of Alberta.

A press release from Special Areas stated the event was intended to increase preparedness.

“The exercise is designed to test and strengthen regional emergency response coordination, communication and decision-making in a simulated emergency scenario,” stated Special Areas. “Participants will include municipal staff, emergency management personnel and partner agencies.

“In rural communities, municipalities often rely on one another during emergencies through mutual aid agreements and shared regional resources. Exercises like this help ensure communities can respond together quickly and effectively when local emergencies exceed the capacity of a single local authority.”

Before the exercise, Martens explained participants would not be notified beforehand of the exercise’s details. They would find out when the event began, essentially dealing with the exercise just as they would in a real emergency or disaster. Participants would set up their management locations and travel to actual spots where the simulated emergency was unfolding.

“This is to identify gaps,” said Martens.

Drawing on her previous experience in local government, Martens noted preparation is vitally important because many things must be done within a limited amount of time. She pointed out details such as equipment compatibility can prove very important in an emergency.

Special Areas also advised residents before the exercise that activity would be noticeable but there was no cause for alarm.

“While no public action is required, residents may notice additional vehicles, personnel and emergency management activity in and around the Town of Oyen throughout the exercise,” stated Special Areas.

The exercises are required by law, according to the Government of Alberta.

“Every four years, each local authority in Alberta must engage in at least one functional exercise, where participants carry out actions as if responding to a likely significant emergency or disaster within their boundaries, in accordance with the local authority’s emergency plan, but do not deploy personnel or other resources,” states the government’s website.

Martens observed regional emergency management stakeholders deserve considerable credit for making such events successful.

The CAO noted the exercises help protect the public by scrutinizing the system for weaknesses that can be addressed before a real emergency occurs.

“There are always lessons learned,” said Martens. “You have to be prepared. So I think these exercises are invaluable.”