Emergency Response

The Emergency Response Plan describes response activities for emergency situations likely to occur as a result of the MNR assigned hazards.

This plan identifies MNR’s role in emergency response as well as MNR’s interrelationships with other organizations and communities in order to comply with the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

MNR’s emergency response is delivered through the:

• Ministry Emergency Operations Centre,
• Regions and Regional Fire Management Centres,
• Districts and District Emergency Response Teams,
• Petroleum Resource Centre.

Each has responsibilities for responding to an emergency situation by working with their communities and coordinating with Emergency Management Ontario.

Ministry Emergency Operations Centre (MEOC)

The Ministry Emergency Operations Centre, located in Sault Ste. Marie, plays a lead role in addressing emergency situations. The MEOC also provides services to Emergency Management Ontario and other ministries in support of their emergency operations.

It operates from April until September and on a seven day basis during the fire season. During the remainder of the year, it operates on a Monday to Friday schedule and on weekends as needed.

The MEOC monitors other emergency situations with Emergency Management Operation's Provincial Emergency Operations Centre to maintain preparedness.

The MEOC provides centralized weather services for MNR emergency preparedness and response requirements. These services include providing:

• daily weather forecasts
• weather watch for severe weather situations
• spot weather forecasts for specific incident locations
• operations of MNR’s extensive provincial weather stations network
• maintenance and operation of the MNR lightning locator system.

Surface Water Monitoring Centre

The Surface Water Monitoring Centre (SWMC) monitors, forecasts and communicates high and low water conditions