CARSTAIRS - Town council has approved a change to the municipality’s emergency management bylaw.
The move came by way of motions at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The change was made at the request of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to bring the municipality into line with terminology used by other municipalities, said CAO Carl McDonnell.
Alberta’s Disaster Services Act was recently replaced by the Emergency Management Act (EMA).
Under the change, the town’s Disaster Services Agency is now called the Carstairs Emergency Management Agency.
The agency is established to “act as the agent of council to carry out its statutory powers and obligations under the EMA.”
Section 12 of the bylaw states that when a state of local emergency is declared, the mayor or councillors making the declaration shall do a number of things, including the following:
- Cause the Carstairs municipal emergency plan or any related plans or programs to be put into operation.
- Acquire or utilize any real or personal property considered necessary to prevent, combat or alleviate the effects of an emergency or disaster.
- Authorize or require any qualified person to render aid of a type he or she is qualified to provide.
- Control or prohibit travel to or from any area of the municipality.
- Provide for the restoration of essential facilities and the distribution of essential supplies and provide, maintain and coordinate emergency medical, welfare and other essential services in any part of the municipality.
- Cause the evacuation of persons and the removal of livestock and personal property from any area of the municipality that is or may be affected by a disaster and make arrangements for the adequate care and protection of those persons or livestock and of the personal property.
- Authorize the entry into any building or on any land, without warrant, by a person in the course of implementing an emergency plan or program.
- Cause the demolition or removal of any trees, structures or crops if the demolition or removal is necessary or appropriate in order to reach the scene of a disaster or to attempt to forestall its occurrence or to combat its progress.
- Procure or fix prices for food, clothing, fuel, equipment, medical supplies, or essential supplies and the use of any property, services, resources or equipment within the municipality for the duration of the state of emergency.
The complete bylaw is available for viewing on the town’s website.
The Alberta Emergency Management Agency leads the coordination, collaboration and co-operation of all organizations involved in the prevention, preparedness and response to disasters and emergencies in the province, say officials.
Meanwhile, the June 25 council meeting also saw reports from town asset manager Lynn Fox and director of community services Sharon Koop, as well as councillor reports.
