The GNWT revealed their updated emergency plan on Monday and the message is clear: people should be readying themselves for whatever may come.

The 20-minute presentation outlined how the plan, which came into effect on April 18 and replaces the old plan from 2018, is meant to clear up any confusing language and make it easier to understand who has what responsibilites, including local authorities, Indigneous governments and the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Emergency Management Division.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would really encourage all residents to undertake personal preparedness activities,SA国际影视传媒� said Emily King, director of public safety for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA). SA国际影视传媒淕et insurance where itSA国际影视传媒檚 available.SA国际影视传媒�

The new plan comes in the wake of last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 evacuations and wildfire season as well as from the 2021 and 2022 flood seasons.

Each department in the GNWT needs their own business continuity plan, King added.

In a 70-page document that accompanied the presentation, it notes climate change as being the hazard of why things have worsened.

SA国际影视传媒淔loods and wildfires are typically the highest risk hazards throughout the NWT. These hazards have frequently caused extensive damage to people, property, the environment, and the economy,SA国际影视传媒� the document reads. SA国际影视传媒淏oth hazards are also expected to increase in frequency, severity and duration due to climate change, causing more extensive damage in the future.SA国际影视传媒�

The document also stated that in the event of a large-scale natural disaster, the federal government provides financial assistance to a province or territory in need through Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA). Assistance only comes when response and recovery costs exceed what that province or territory could reasonably be expected to bear on their own.

Last year, the GNWT reportedly spent about five times more than what was budgeted for.

How long it takes to get help depends, King said. According to the plan, a request for reimbursement with the DFAA requires the right documentation of expenditures and a review by federal auditors.

That can take several years before a territory or province is finally reimbursed.

SA国际影视传媒淚t takes a while to gather the background documentation,SA国际影视传媒� King explained, adding that a territory or province could apply for advances if needed. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what the GNWT did last summer for wildfire season.

King also said the territorial government is upping its capacity to respond to emergencies with surge staffing. THe GNWT has reportedly found more than 9o government employees who could support incident management teams, if necessary.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was a big issue last year,SA国际影视传媒� King said. SA国际影视传媒淏ig lesson learned.SA国际影视传媒�

In speaking with SA国际影视传媒 Monday afternoon, MACA Minister Vince McKay said emergency plans are designed to try to educate everybody, including residents, that there is an individual responsibility to be prepared.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been involved in this stuff for a long time SA国际影视传媒� just knowing when thereSA国际影视传媒檚 an emergency, depending on the event, the people in the local government are usually the most experienced in the area for the type of emergency,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淔or example, itSA国际影视传媒檚 impossible for somebody in Hay River to tell somebody in Paulatuk what to do. People donSA国际影视传媒檛 know whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening there.SA国际影视传媒�

McKay, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 also a first responder, stressed the key to making things work is communication.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou try to plan for everything but sometimes you might not plan for (a certain) type of emergency,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t gets to a point where we realize this emergency is out of our control then they would be communicating with the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淟ikewise, if the territory finds we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the resources in place, we would communicate with the federal government. Every single department should have some kind of emergency plan and preparedness in place.SA国际影视传媒�

One of the massive criticisms of last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 evacuation was the lack of communication from all levels of government. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 something McKay is confident wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be an issue this time around should there be the need to evacuate a community.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not saying any department did anything wrong last year, I just know from my experience that I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 comfortable with some of the communication,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut I think going forward thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been a very big push from every department within the government to get clear communication.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think the big thing is is the capacity issues and the ability to handle and deal with emergencies. We can only prepare for so much, obviously, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying our best to get ahead of that. Sometimes youSA国际影视传媒檙e dealing with stuff that you werenSA国际影视传媒檛 prepared to deal with conceptually.SA国际影视传媒�