Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR)

2006 Report of Activities

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Office of Emergency Response Services (OERS)

The Office of Emergency Response Services (OERS) is responsible for CEPR front-line Services, including the National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS), the National Quarantine Division and the National Office of Health Emergency Response Teams (NOHERT).

In 2006, the OERS focussed on three priorities: completion of the NESS Strategic Review; further enhancement of the Quarantine Program; and preparations to have the first NOHERT team operational by late 2007.

National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS)

The National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS) is a program within the Office of Emergency Response Services. NESS maintains a stockpile of critical health and social service supplies for a 24-hour rapid emergency response capacity in support of the provinces and territories.

A working group consisting of federal and provincial representatives completed a complex strategic review of NESS in December 2006. The review process involved an evaluation of stockpile systems, an examination of NESS content and functionality, and a needs/gaps analysis designed to enhance NESS's ability to assist local, provincial and territorial authorities when they find themselves overwhelmed by a natural or humancaused disaster.

The strategic review report, which contains a risk and threat analysis developed by the working group in collaboration with the Integrated Threat Assessment Committee (ITAC), PSEPC and the provinces and territories, is being used as a framework to design and plan a modern day stockpile. The stockpile's procurement strategy is based on 64 hazards/disasters, with threat and casualty scenarios for both natural and human caused disasters.

NESS-supported disasters in 2006

In April, NESS issued emergency supplies, including beds and linens, to assist in forest- fire response in Ontario.

In June/July, NESS issued emergency supplies, including beds and blankets, to Saskatchewan social service authorities following flooding of the Saskatchewan River and provincial forest fires.

In December, NESS issued emergency supplies consisting of stretchers and blankets in support of the provincial response to a power outage in British Columbia.

Office of Emergency Response Services (OERS)

Expanding surge capacity

NESS continues to procure antibiotics, personal protective equipment and other critical supplies identified by expert groups such as the Pandemic Influenza Committee (PIC) in order to reach its goal of maintaining a 20 percent federal surge capacity above and beyond the provincial and territorial stockpile levels in support of pandemic- type events.

This stockpile will give the federal government the capacity to support provincial and territorial emergency management authorities should a disruption in their supply chain occur in responding to a pandemic event.

Quarantine Services

The OERS National Quarantine Division is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of Canada's new Quarantine Act, which aims to reduce the probability of transmission of new and emerging diseases – such as SARS and tuberculosis – into Canada.

The Division maintains quarantine stations, staffed by Quarantine Officers, at Canada's six major international airports (which account for approximately 94 percent of travel to and from Canada) and at the country's maritime ports of entry.

In 2006, the Division developed a special training curriculum for its Quarantine Officers and for quarantine partners, including the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP. The Office also developed special operating procedures to support the Quarantine Act, and consulted with federal partners on respective roles and responsibilities under the new legislation.

National Office of Health Emergency Response Teams (NOHERT)

The consequences of health disasters often include heavy demands on health systems to step up emergency treatment and, at the same time, maintain existing health care services. In Canada, an afflicted jurisdiction can call on its neighbours and the federal government to draw upon additional all-hazards surge capacity. With this need in mind, the National Office of Health Emergency Response Teams (NOHERT) was established within the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response to establish local health emergency response teams located strategically across the country.

Working with its health emergency counterparts in Canada's provinces and territories, NOHERT developed the blueprint for the HERT's basic capabilities and assessed the training, equipment supplies and emergency plans that would be the basis for the establishment of the first Health Emergency Response Team (HERT) in Ottawa in late 2007. In 2006, NOHERT achieved agreement to authorize its physicians and surgeons to work in other parts of the country – a right governed by provincial laws and statutes. NOHERT also made progress in complex human resources issues associated with management of a largely volunteer non-public-servant workforce.

Office of Emergency Response Services (OERS) Ottawa Depot

Looking ahead

OERS priorities for 2007 include:

National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS)

• secure funding through a Memorandum to Cabinet to initiate a five-year project to fully implement all 30 recommendations of the NESS strategic review

National Quarantine Division

• develop regulations to support the new Quarantine Act;
• develop the marine component of the Quarantine Program;
• enhance collaboration with the U.S. Quarantine Service;
• finalize consultations with provincial and local health authorities;
• sign memoranda of understanding with quarantine partners outlining respective roles and responsibilities under the new Quarantine Act; and
• finalize the Quarantine Operations Manual and Travel Health Database

National Office of Health Emergency Response Teams (NOHERT)

• validate NOHERT's concept of operations and unit configuration in a series of practical exercises; and
• continue working with national authorities on the engagement of NOHERT volunteers.

DID YOU KNOW?

Office of Emergency Response Services (OERS) Ottawa Depot

DID YOU KNOW?

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