A joint emergency exercise called Crossing Borders was held on October 3, 2019 in Northumberland County.
The scenario dealt with a worker at a chemical manufacturing company in the Brighton Industrial Park suffered a medical emergency which resulted in a significant workplace accident and fire.
The employees evacuated the facility as first responders arrive on scene.
There were a number of serious casualties from the fire and explosion within the facility.
The municipality of Brighton ordersed an evacuation of the immediate area to a First Response Reception Centre set up at the King Edward Park Arena. Brighton and Northumberland Emergency Control Groups activate their Emergency Operations Centre and Hastings County was called on for Emergency Response Support.
Shortly after a weather system moved into the area threatens to increase the size and impact of the industrial emergency, as nearby businesses were now at risk and a secondary evacuation area was ordered including the King Edward Park Arena. Evacuees were then transported to two Evacuation Shelters in the neighboring communities of Colborne (Township of Cramahe) and Batawa (City of Quinte West).
Northumberland County took charge of the Colborne Centre while Hastings County activates their Emergency Operations Centre in Belleville and sends their Emergency Social Services Team to operate the shelter at the Batawa Community Centre.
During the scenario, there were several community partners who joined forces to respond and recover from the emergency situation.
The exercise was a multi-partnership sponsored event including but not limited to: Northumberland County, Hastings County, The Municipality of Brighton, The Township of Cramahe, City of Quinte West, Quinte Health Care, Central Ambulance Communications Centres in Lindsay and Kingston, Ontario Provincial Police, Canadian Red Cross, The Salvation Army, St. John Ambulance, OCEAP, Municipal Animal Services, and the HKPR Health Unit. The purpose of this exercise was to: assess emergency plans, policies, and procedures for responding to a major event involving services not typical of first responding agencies.
This emergency exercise focussed on the partnerships and collaborations of two Counties, three Municipalities, and multiple community organizations and agencies. The reality of an emergency of this magnitude occurring in the Municipality of Brighton would require the collaboration of partners across these borders and levels. Northumberland County, Hastings County and The Municipality of Brighton recognize the importance of testing their partnerships and emergency plans in a collaborative exercise such as this, to ensure that all plans and processes are understood so that they may work effectively together in the event of a real emergency.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
