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FortSmithgetsrefresheronemergencyplanHealthWellnessEmergencyPrepardness15TuesdayJuly12014DevolutionLegislationdevolution.gov.nt.calegislationTorevieworcommentonlegislationgoverningtheGNWTresponsibilitiesformanagingpubliclandwaterandresourcesgotothedevolutionwebsiteandclickonthedevolutionlegislationbutton.AnyquestionsUsetheformonthewebsitetosubmitandtheywillbeansweredpromptly.ByMARIACHURCHComewhatmaybeitaforestreoodorzombieapocalypsetheTownofFortSmithisfeelingpreparedafterasimulatedemergencyexerciselastweekrevampeditsofcialEmergencyPre-parednessGuide.TheexercisewasfacilitatedbythedepartmentofMunic-ipalandCommunityAffairsMACAinresponsetoare-questfromthetowninApril.ThefactthatittookplacedaysafterthethreatfromanoutofcontrolwildredieddowninthecommunityisaukeaccordingtotownSAOJimHood.Itisjustcoincidencethatithappenstobethisweek.ItsbeenintheworksforawhileHoodsaidafterthetwo-dayexercisewrappedupThursday.TheexercisewasledbyMACAsIvanRussellwhotookthegroupresponsibleforthetownsemergencyplanin-cludingthemayorSAOPub-licWorksPublicHealthandEnvironmentandNaturalRe-sourcesthroughtheprocessofrespondingtoanemergency.Whiledayonewasare-fresheronthetownscurrentemergencyguidedaytwoincludedatabletopexercisethatsimulatedanEmergencyOperationsCentreEOCinthetownofce.MuchoftheexercisewasdedicatedtointroducingtheIncidentCommandSystemastandardizedmanagementwitheachotherIfeelbetterhesaid.Ifwehadtoevacu-ateifwehadtoactonthethreatIwouldntsaythatwearebetterpreparedbecausewewerepreparedbeforebutIthinkthattheprocesswouldworkalotmoresmoothly.Theresnocertainanswerasfarassayingwearealwaysgoingtogobyairorwearealwaysgoingtogobyroad.Itjustdependsonthesitua-tionHoodsaid.FortSmithMayorBradBrakesaidhewashappywiththeexerciseandemphasizedthatthetownhashadanup-to-dateemergencyplaninplaceforyearscompletewitheverylittledetailfromthemomenttheyarenotiedofanincidenttoevacuationandeventualre-turntothecommunity.Weresetuphere.WeknowwhatsgoingonBrakesaid.MACAcurrentlyoffersemergencyresponseplan-ningandtabletopexerciseworkshopstoallcommu-nitiesintheNWTonare-questbasis.PhotoMariaChurchsystemacceptedacrossCanada.Wearegoingtomoveto-wardsthatbutthisisourrstrealexposuretoitourrstrealreviewofitasfarasdoingitforourownEOCHoodsaid.Thetownupdatesitsemer-gencyplanonayearlybasisHoodsaidbuthavingtheex-ercisewasausefulopportu-nitytointeractwithallplayersinvolvedintheplan.IthinknowthatwevebroughtthegrouptogetherandpeoplearemorefamiliarShouldthetownacti-vateitsEOCHoodwouldtakeontheroleofincidentcommandertheheadofallemergencyoperations.WiththehelpofinformationfromallplayersincludingMACAandWoodBuffaloNationalParkhewouldmakecallsontheevacuationplan.Ifthehighwayisgoingtobecutofforifthereissmokeinthecommunitythatwillaffectairtravelallofthatinformationplaysinsowedevelopourplanfromthere.JimHoodsecondfromleftorchestratesasimulatedemergencyoperationscentreintheFortSmithtownofcelastweek.IthinknowthatwevebroughtthegrouptogetherandpeoplearemorefamiliarwitheachotherIfeelbetter.JimHoodTownofFortSmith