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May 5-11 is Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week in Alberta. This is an opportune time to review related resources and EP plans in your organizations and for your families. In the last few years, we have learned that emergencies can arise at any time and can challenge both our planning and our resources. As summer approaches, wildfires, storms, and this year's potential drought, may impact our communities and operations.
As shared previously, ACDS is working collaboratively with Seniors, Community and Social Services (SCSS) to identify resources and practices to help service providers prepare for and respond to emergencies, and to enhance planning in the sector. As a result of our initial conversations, there are a few emerging lessons we want to share, some related resources, and an update on our work with PDD in this area.
Along with SCSS, we recently had an opportunity to debrief with some service providers impacted by wildfire evacuations in 2023. Here are the key learnings that emerged from this conversation to assist in your business continuity and emergency response planning:
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Inspect Go Bags/emergency backpacks: although organizations have Go Bags in place, we universally heard from service providers that these should be inspected and updated more often and that more consideration should be given to the contents, including ensuring key items and information (such as medical and contact information) is included.
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Loop guardians/families into planning: Conversations with guardians and/or family members should occur throughout the year to ensure, where possible, individuals can be assisted by guardians in an emergency.
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Plan staffing: assessing what staffing resources and related limitations you may have in advance may be helpful. It is important to have conversations with staff about potential availability during an evacuation, especially in areas of higher risk.
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Use online client information: Service providers using online systems for client information and case planning found it helpful to have access to all information from any location.
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Establish a PDD contact: Establishing a single point of contact and communication with PDD as quickly as possible is very important; text communication is much easier than managing emails given limited access to computers. Also, depending on the situation your existing key contacts may also be evacuated, so this becomes especially important.
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Establish contacts within your municipality: This can assist both during evacuation and particularly in getting access to re-enter the community and prepare for the return of clients to homes.
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Plan for individuals living alone: Ensure you plan for individuals who may live alone or in Supported Independent Living (SIL). These individuals can be overlooked in municipal planning; ensuring planning is in place for their evacuation is critical.
ACDS is currently meeting weekly with PDD leads on this work and have also shared feedback regarding:
- Service provider concerns about risk and liability should they open space or take on services for individuals and/or host staff from other providers. This also includes potentially not having access to all the individual’s risk-related background information.
- Needing a clear process and mechanism with PDD for the fast and streamlined approval of any required resources to ensure safety during an evacuation or emergency.
- Assisting with identifying and maintaining single points of communication.
Some Additional Updates
SCSS is working to identify what types of communication are needed and the related time frames, to ensure organizations are aware of requirements but not unnecessarily overburdened with check-ins and reporting.
SCSS is also in communication with the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) to identify and remove barriers to decision-making for individuals who may have a public guardian in emergency situations.
Several resources should have been shared with you by your contract manager. You should have also been asked to respond to an inquiry regarding your potential available space and that your continuity planning is up to date.
ACDS is also reminding service providers to address the need for strong planning in CET surveys consistent with Standard 7.1.L.1.1. Read this new information sheet detailing service provider requirements for CET Surveys related to risk management and business continuity.
Additional resources include:
We will continue to communicate information as it is available. Stay safe!
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