Access to local products, services and supports critical to emergency preparedness in Alberta

Access to local products, services and supports critical to emergency preparedness in Alberta

Press Release

Emergency Management Logistics Canada (EMLCanada) is pleased to announce that, effective immediately, the EMLPlatform will be free of charge to all Alberta municipalities, First Nations and Metis communities, local businesses, and the community sector (i.e. churches, non-profit agencies, voluntary organizations, etc.) across the province.

In disaster situations, it is critical for local emergency management organizations to have immediate access to current, relevant, and available products, services, supports, and amenities.

The EMLPlatform is a directory-based, online platform specifically designed to support emergency management. Businesses and community sector organizations can build and maintain current contact information and highlight the products, services, supports, and amenities they have available for disaster response and recovery efforts.  

Traditionally, emergency management organizations have manually created contact lists that are inevitably outdated when needed most. The EMLPlatform was designed and built by Alberta-based Emergency Management Logistics Canada (EMLCanada) to facilitate resource identification and sharing using a network and community development approach.

According to Scott Cameron, co-founder of EMLCanada, the platform is “a better way” for local communities to find and access products, services and supports that may be needed to address disaster response and recovery efforts. “Businesses and community agencies aren’t necessarily connected into their local emergency management organizations in a meaningful way, so they miss out on opportunities to provide critical products, services and supports. This can result in delays and potential loss of time, infrastructure, and even lives.” On the EMLPlatform, businesses and organizations build and maintain their own information – the system monitors updates and provides reminders to ensure that information is always current.

Free access to the EML Platform is possible due in part to the financial contribution of the Canadian Red Cross. Canadian Red Cross is supporting local communities to enhance preparedness by helping to improve access to resources, products, and services across the province.

Village of Delburne moving forward with New Emergency Management Platform

Village of Delburne moving forward with new emergency management platform

Press Release

Delburne, AB, November 4, 2021 — The Village of Delburne is taking steps to improve efficiency in their emergency management program by joining a new platform designed to better connect with neighbouring communities, agencies, networks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local vendors.

“Every disaster requires a local response,” says Scott Cameron, Co-founder of Emergency Management Logistics Canada. “The EMLCanada.ca platform has been designed to support local communities and build capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency situations.”

When every second counts, having immediate access to updated product and service vendors saves time, money, properties, and potentially, lives. In the past, most emergency management organizations invested valuable resources building and updating their own contact lists. This new centralized logistics platform improves access, facilitates mutual support, and gives local businesses a tangible way to support emergency efforts – locally, provincially, regionally, or nationally.

“During the 2016 wildfires in Northern Alberta, one of our vendors had a 5000 gpm pump that could have made a difference, but the frontlines were unaware of the equipment, the vendor didn’t have the right contact information to make the equipment available, and it sat in the shop during the event because there were no mechanisms designed to help make the connection,” says Cameron.

“EMLCanada has created a national logistics database to make it easy for emergency management organizations to find what they need, when they need it.”

EMLCanada provides emergency management organizations like the Village of Delburne with centralized logistics tools and access to local product and service vendors that can fill a critical need during emergencies from #blanketstohelicopters. EMLCanada is also proud to boost Canadian vendors by profiling businesses in local, regional, and national markets, while creating a community of practice that convenes the emergency management sector all in one place.

Founded by Scott Cameron and Pauline Mousseau in July 2020, EMLCanada is about enhancing emergency preparation, response, and recovery. The open platform allows stakeholders to easily find vendors and services, share information, build relationships, and enhance emergency response while saving critical time and money.

Village of Delburne Emergency Disaster Services

Benefits to EMLCanada include:

· Accessible online platform available 24/7/365

· Regularly updated Database

· Networking and Learning Opportunities with a monthly newsletter and regular training sessions delivered by subject matter experts

· Robust Search and Source tool to help find specific tools, equipment, and supplies in a rush

· Respond and Support tool flags your request and enables quick and direct responses from EMOs and Vendors

The Village of Delburne invites local businesses to build and maintain a profile on the platform to make their products and services known before the next disaster. “We may need anything from heavy equipment and sandbags to pizzas and hotel rooms to accommodate evacuees,” says Dan Marsellus, Director of Emergency Management for the Village of Delburne.

Visit EMLCanada.ca to learn more about member plans and pricing and join Canada’s only emergency management logistics platform today. 

Central Alberta municipalities adopt service to help provide logistics help in emergencies

Central Alberta municipalities adopt service to help provide logistics help in emergencies

Two former City of Red Deer staffers formed Emergency Management Logistics Canada last year

Red Deer Advocate Article

Four central Alberta municipalities are among those aiming to improve emergency preparedness by using a service that connects them to emergency products and vendors.

Emergency Management Logistics Canada (EMLCanada) is a logistics platform that is being used by Red Deer and Lacombe Counties, City of Red Deer and the Village of Delburne.

“EMLCanada has created a national logistics database to make it easy for emergency management organizations to find what they need, when they need it,” said co-founder Scott Cameron.

Cameron has more than 25 years working in community sectors and municipal government, including many years with the City of Red Deer. Co-founder Pauline Mousseau also has many years of experience with the city and county of Red Deer.

Between them, both have experience dealing with everything from the Pine Lake Tornado to floods, toxic spills and wildfires in northern Alberta.

The pair began in the company in July 2020 with the goal of helping improve emergency preparation, response and recovery.

“The open platform allows stakeholders to easily find vendors and services, share information, build relationships, and enhance emergency response while saving critical time and money,” says the company in a news release.

“The open platform allows stakeholders to easily find vendors and services, share information, build relationships, and enhance emergency response while saving critical time and money.”

A search tool allows users to find specific tools, equipment and supplies in a hurry.

Networking and learning opportunities are also provided through a monthly newsletter and regular training sessions delivered by experts.

Rainstorms in the mountains are the cause of Red Deer River floods. Snow melt alone, no matter the size of the snow pack, is enough. File photo from Red Deer Advocate

Lacombe County joins Emergency Management Logistics Canada

Lacombe County joins Emergency Management Logistics Canada

CHRISTI ALBERS-MANICKE / Lacombe Express Article

Lacombe County will be one of the first to join a new online platform that connects Emergency Management Operators (like municipal governments) with vendors across the country.

The service enables them to find everything they need in an emergency, ranging from blankets to helicopters. This will mean faster and more efficient response times.

“We have people in logistics roles that hire contractors and source vendors, so they have that internal knowledge. But sometimes, we need them to look for something they don’t normally source. This directory supplements the information we already have, and closes the gaps in what I would call common knowledge,” says Drayton Bussiere, County Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management for Lacombe County.

Drayton Bussiere and Scott Cameron

Emergency Management Logistics Canada (EMLCanada) is Canada’s first and only emergency management logistics platform that connects emergency management organizations (EMOs) directly with product and service vendors across Canada to improve emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Lacombe County is one of the first centres to go with the platform, Red Deer County, The City of Red Deer and Village of Delburne have also joined.

“EMLCanada has created a national logistics database to make it easy for emergency management organizations to find what they need, when they need it,” said co-founder Scott Cameron. The open platform allows stakeholders to easily find vendors and services, share information, build relationships, and enhance emergency response while saving critical time and money.

His personal introduction to emergency management was during the Pine Lake Tornado in 2000 while he was working as the Executive Director of United Way of Central Alberta.

He coordinated a local committee to ensure a fair and equitable distribution process and since then Scott has since been deployed to a number of disaster situations including local floods and toxic spills, and wildfires in northern Alberta.

Emergency Management Logistics is Canada’s first and only emergency management logistics platform.

Ponoka County joins Emergency Management Logistics Canada

Ponoka County joins forces with EMLCanada

CHRISTI ALBERS-MANICKE / Ponoka News Article

November 13, 2021

Ponoka has become one of the first counties to join forces with Emergency Management Logistics Canada (EMLCanada).

EMLCanada is Canada’s first and only emergency management logistics platform that connects emergency management organizations (EMOs) directly with product and service vendors across Canada to improve emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

“The new Emergency Management System (EMLCanada) is a great asset at the time of an emergency to ensure access to vendors and supplies when required,” said protective services coordinator Donna Noble. “It allows collaboration with other municipalities in training and experience. Vendor information is at your fingertips without worrying if contact information is current.”

Founded by Scott Cameron and Pauline Mousseau in July 2020, EMLCanada is about enhancing emergency preparation, response, and recovery. The open platform allows stakeholders to easily find vendors and services, share information, build relationships and enhance emergency response while saving critical time and money.

“EMLCanada has created a national logistics database to make it easy for emergency management organizations to find what they need, when they need it,” said Cameron.

EMLCanada provides EMOs with centralized logistics tools and access to local product and service vendors that can fill a critical need during emergencies. EMLCanada also boosts Canadian vendors by profiling local businesses, in regional and national markets, while creating a community of practice that convenes the emergency management sector all in one place.

Cameron’s introduction to emergency management was during the Pine Lake Tornado in 2000, while working as the executive director of United Way of central Alberta.

He coordinated a local committee to ensure a fair and equitable distribution process after realizing that allocating local donations and assets was an issue. Since then, he has been deployed to a number of disaster situations, including local floods and toxic spills and wildfires in northern Alberta.

Ponoka County is not only part of an Emergency Management Partnership with the Town of Ponoka, Town of Rimbey and Summer Village of Parkland Beach, but also has representation on the Central Region All Hazard Incident Management Team (CRAHIMT) in logistics.

With this connection, collaboration can be coordinated with other municipalities involved with EMLCanada.

“As with most regional emergency management partnerships, the smaller municipalities are normally unable to support an incident on their own and support will come from other agencies within the partnership, mutual aid partners or CRAHIMT,” she said.

She added that the connection to the EMLCanada system could be utilized regionally in the partnership with the smaller municipalities encompassed under the partnership and was one of the reasons they decided to get on board.

“Steps to include all the agency partners is ongoing at forthcoming meetings.”