Keep calm and know that the Town of Olds is ready for disaster.
On Dec. 18 the town practised its crisis response with a mock emergency exercise.
Participating agencies included the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA), the Olds Fire Department, RCMP, Alberta Health Services, the town's finance department, public works department, social services, Alberta Energy Regulator and Holy Trinity Catholic School.
The scenario presented before them was a gas leak due to a natural gas line struck during construction on the north side of Willow Lane and 65 Avenue. A northeast wind carried the fumes toward Holy Trinity.
An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated, housed inside the Olds fire hall.
Under the direction of the EOC manager Bill Johnston, the team provided support to the incident site, such as sending buses for the evacuation of the school. They also set up a reception centre for the evacuees Olds College.
Johnston has served as EOC manager for 30 years and said a real emergency would be faster paced.
“You don't really have the time to stop and think,” he said.
Municipal Affairs requires a simulation to be conducted once every four years but Johnston is hoping to run another one in March.
The emergency management team acts on behalf of elected officials, who are the only ones who can declare a state of local emergency.
In such a situation, a municipality gains extra powers such as the authority to compensate property owners for expropriating any equipment that's needed.
It can also fix the price of goods and services. For example, a municipality might lower the price of bottled water during a flood.
The municipality also provides liability protection for any actions done in good faith.
