Emergency Management Bylaw 10-2021 — full text

This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source document governs. Snapshot a8dba41f5ff5 · verified 2026-06-08 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

## Emergency Management Bylaw BEING A BYLAW OF THORHILD COUNTY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTE AND AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. WHEREAS the Emergency Management Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. E-6.8, and the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation allows Council to pass bylaws authorizing the establishment and maintenance of an Emergency Advisory Committee and Emergency Management Agency; NOW THEREFORE the Council of Thorhild County in the Province of Alberta, duly assembled, enacts as follows: ## 1.0 TITLE This Bylaw may be cited as the Emergency Management Bylaw. ## 2.0 DEFINITIONS - a) "Act" means the Emergency Management Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter E-6.8, and any regulations. - b) "AEMA" means the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. - C) "Agency" means Thorhild County Municipal Emergency Management Agency established under this bylaw. - d) "Chief Administrative Officer" means the individual appointed by Council. - e) "Committee" means the Emergency Advisory Committee established under this bylaw. - f) "Council" means the Council of Thorhild County.   - g) "County" means Thorhild County. - h) "Director" means the person Chief Administrative Officer of designate. - i) "Disaster" means an event that has resulted or may result in serious harm to the safety, health or welfare or people, or in widespread damage to property. - j) "Emergency" means a present or imminent event that requires prompt coordination of action, or special regulation of persons or property to protect the health, safety or welfare of people or to limit damage to property. 5. "Incident Command System (ICS)" means the command, control and coordination system prescribed by the Managing Director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency that is used by the County, which is designed to enable effective, efficient incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure. - 1) "Minister" means the Minister charged with the administration of the Act. - m) "Municipal Emergency Management Plan" means the emergency plan and related plans and programs as established by this bylaw. ## 3.0 EMERGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ## 1. Establishment - The Emergency Advisory Committee is hereby established. - b) The Committee shall consist of all members of Council. ## 2. Responsibilities and Duties of the Committee The Committee shall: - a) provide guidance and direction to the Agency; 2. review the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs at least once per year;  - c) advise Council, duly assembled, on the status of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs; and - d) perform any other functions and duties as required by this bylaw. 3. The Reeve is the Chair of the Committee and will preside at all meetings of the Committee. 4. If the Reeve is unable to perform the Chair's duties, the Deputy Reeve at the time of the meeting will act as the chair. 5. Quorum shall be three (3) members, except when the Committee is exercising its power with respect to declaring a State of Local Emergency as per Section 6. The Committee shall meet once per year, or more frequently as required and may meet on less than twenty-four (24) hours' notice. Where meetings in person are not possible, the Committee may convene by telephone or electronic means of communication. ## 4.0 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ## Establishment The Emergency Management Agency is hereby established under the Act. ## Responsibilities and Duties of the Agency The Agency shall: - a) act as the agent of Council to carry out all of the powers and duties of Council under the Emergency Management Act; - b) provide advice to the Committee as required; - c) advise the Committee on the work of the Agency and provide a written report at least once per year; 4. ensure that all aspects of the County emergency management planning, preparedness, responses, and recovery activities, adhere to the principles of the command, control and coordination system Incident Command System (ICS); - e) review the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs for the County at least once per year;  - f) cause the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs to be put into operation in an Emergency or Disaster; - g) provide training for County personnel to participate in the emergency responses and recovery activities for an Emergency or Disaster; - h) assist the Director with the performance of duties and powers of the Director under this bylaw; - i) be responsible for the administration of the local authority's emergency management program; and 5. perform any other functions and duties as require by this bylaw or by Council. ## 3. Membership and Participation The Members of the Agency are: - The Director; - b) The Deputy Director; - c) Any other municipal employee designated by the Director; - d) The following organizations may be invited to provide representation to the Emergency Management Agency as required or desired from time to time: - i. Royal Canadian Mount Police detachments); - ii. local school boards; - ili. municipalities that Thorhild County has entered into mutual aid agreements; - V. provincial departments and agencies such as, but not limited to, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Municipal Affairs, Alberta Environment and Parks, and Alberta Transportation; - iv. service organizations; - vi. representatives from local industries; utility service providers; or businesses; - vil. any other person or agency which may serve a useful purpose in the preparation or implementation of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan.  ## 5.0 DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (DEM) ## 1. Appointment - The Chief Administrative Officer is hereby appointed Director. - b) The CAO shall appoint Deputy Directors) of Emergency Management. - In the absence of the Director the Deputy Director of Emergency Management will act as the Director. - The Director is authorized to delegate and authorize further delegations of any powers, duties, and functions delegated to the Director under this bylaw. ## 2. Duties of the Director of Emergency Management The Director Emergency Management shall: - a) be the Chair of the Agency; - b) prepare and co-ordinate the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs for the County; - c) act as director of emergency operations on behalf of the emergency management agency; 4. co-ordinate all emergency services and other resources used in an Emergency or Disaster; or ensure that someone is designated to discharge the responsibilities specified above; 5. meet with the Committee at least once per year to discuss the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and programs; - f) act as a liaison on behalf of the Agency between the Agency and other organizations, including the Alberta Emergency Management Agency; and 7. perform any other functions and duties as required by this bylaw or by Council. ## 6. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF COUNCIL Council shall; - a) provide for the payment of expenses of the members of the Committee; - b) approve the County's emergency plans and programs; and - c) review the status of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs at least once per year.  - d) complete any courses prescribed by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency in accordance with the Act. Council may; - a) by bylaw that is not advertised, borrow, levy, appropriate and expend, all sums required for the operation of the Committee; and 2. enter into agreements with and make payments or grants, or both, to persons or organizations for the provision of services in the development or implementation of emergency plans or programs, including mutual aid plans and programs. ## 7. DECLARATION OF A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY - a) The power to declare or renew a State of Local Emergency under the Act, the powers and the requirements specified in this bylaw, are hereby delegated to the Reeve, or in their absence the Deputy Reeve alone, or in their absence, two members of Council. The person(s) may, at any time when it is satisfied that an emergency exists or may exist, by resolution, make a declaration of a State of Local Emergency. - b) When a State of Local Emergency is declared, the person(s) making the declaration shall: - i. ensure that the declaration identifies the nature of the Emergency and the area of the County in which it exists; - ii. cause the details of the declaration to be published immediately by such means of communication considered most likely to notify the population of the area affected; and - ili. forward a copy of the declaration to the Minister without delay ## 8. EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY POWERS When a State of Local Emergency is declared, the Agency may, for the duration of the State of Local Emergency, do all acts and take all necessary proceedings including the following: - a) put into operation an emergency plan or program;  - b) acquire or utilize any real or personal property considered necessary to prevent, combat, or alleviate the effects of an Emergency or Disaster; - c) authorize or require any qualified person to render aid of a type they are qualified to provide; - d) control or prohibit travel to or from any area of the County - e) 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 County; 5. order the evacuation of persons and the removal of livestock and personal property from any area of the County that is or maybe affected by a disaster and arrange for the adequate care and protection of those persons or livestock and of the personal property; 6. authorize the entry into any building or on any land, without warrant, by any person in the course of implementing an emergency plan or program; - h) 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, orto attempt to forestall its occurrence or to combat its progress; - i) procure or fix prices for food, clothing, fuel, equipment, medical supplies, or other essential supplies and the use of any property, services, resources or equipment with the County of the duration of the state of emergency; - j) authorize the conscription of persons needed to meet an emergency, and - k) authorize any persons at any time to exercise, in the operation of the Emergency Management Plan and related plans or programs, any power specified in Sections 8 b) through 8 j) of this bylaw in relation to any part of the municipality affected by a declaration of a state of local emergency. 11. Any other power provided for in the Emergency Management Act and its regulations that is not provided for in this bylaw. - m) Despite section 7 of this bylaw, the provincial minister responsible for the Emergency Management Act may restrict, prohibit, or terminate the exercise  of powers by Thorhild County under a local state of emergency in accordance with the Emergency Management Act. ## 9. Termination of A State of Local Emergency - a) When, in the opinion of the person(s) declaring the State of Local Emergency, an Emergency no longer exists in relation to which the declaration was made, they shall, by resolution, terminate the declaration. - b) A declaration of a State of Local Emergency is considered terminated and ceases to be of any force or effect when: - i. a resolution is passed under Section 9.a); - ii. a period of seven days has lapsed since it was declared or 90 days if a pandemic is identified as the reason for the declaration, unless it is renewed by resolution; or - lil. the Minister cancels the State of Local Emergency; - iv. When a declaration of a State of Local Emergency has been terminated the person(s) who made the declaration shall cause the details of the termination to be published immediately by such means of communication considered most likely to notify the population of the area affected. ## 10. Liability Protection for Emergency Service Providers No action lies against Thorhild County Council, or any person acting under Council's, direction or authorization, for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith while carrying out a power under this bylaw or the Act or the regulations during a State of Local Emergency. ## 11. SEVERABILITY Should any provision of this Bylaw be invalid, then such invalid provision shall be severed, and the remaining Bylaw shall be maintained.  ## 12. REPEAL Emergency Management Bylaw 11-2019 and all its amendments are hereby repealed. ## 13. EFFECTIVE DATE This Bylaw shall take full force and effect upon third and final reading. READ A FIRST TIME IN COUNCIL THIS 9TH DAY OF MARCH, 2021 Slain Kunday 10) Chief Administrative Officer  READ A SECOND TIME IN COUNCIL THIS gTH DAY OF MARCH, 2021  ленні, кишине Reevé Chief Administrative Officer READ A THIRD TIME IN COUNCIL THIS gTH DAY OF MARCH, 2021 Chief Administrative Officer