Huron County prepares for 'extreme heat' event
Huron County’s decision makers have holed up in Clinton’s Libro Hall to simulate an emergency they hope never actually materializes.
“It’s part of their emergency preparedness and planning. We’ve decided to do one group, all together in one room, simulating a heat and power outage emergency,” said Chad Kregar, Huron County’s emergency manager.
Mayors, fire chiefs, public works, CAO’s, OPP, and paramedics from all nine Huron County municipalities are going through what a sustained heat emergency and subsequent power outages and storm damage could leave in their wake.
It’s an annual exercise mandated by Emergency Management Ontario.
“Every municipality needs to be prepared for any kind of event. Goderich had a tornado several years ago, and this helps our municipalities deal with and know our current critical infrastructure and how to respond in the event of an emergency,” said Huron County’s Health and Safety Manager Michaela Johnston.
Monday’s tabletop emergency exercise is a precursor to this weekend’s emergency exercise spanning Huron and Bruce County, involving the military.
Huron County emergency exercise in Clinton on April 29, 2024. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
There will be 800 Canadian army reservists simulating fighting wildfires, search and rescues, and wellness checks across the two counties on May 3-5.
“It’s the same premise the military exercise is based on. It’s a heat event with power outages where the military might have to respond after a tornado and wildfires, where they’d be coming to assist municipalities with clearing brush, setting up water distribution, and cooling centres,” said Johnston.
‘Exercise Trillium Venture’ will be most evident on Saturday as the military mobilizes across Huron and Bruce County.
Monday’s exercise in Clinton is getting officials ready for that kind of disaster and what they’d be expected to do to keep people safe.
“That’s what they’re practicing today. Essentially it’s practice for a live event,” said Kregar.
“It can happen at any time to any community. It’s one thing to be prepared and know the steps to ask for help from other municipalities, and the province, if need be,” said Johnston.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.