Emergency Response (ER)
About Emergency Response
Members of Sarnia Lambton CAER maintain exceptional emergency management plans that are based on assessments of risks associated with their respective materials, processes and equipment. Low probability / high consequence scenarios are studied to prevent emergencies but also prepare response solutions that can minimize impacts of events and expedite recovery as required.
Relevant aspects of emergency plans and procedures are shared with employees, contractors, and neighbours. A significant element of CAER in our region is cooperation and coordination of our member site response teams to:
- Local government response teams; and
- Response teams from other member sites.
An emergency at a CAER member site is addressed from a regional perspective to maximize effectiveness and efficiency of shared equipment, personnel and technologies toward one unified plan.
Tools and Processes
For several decades members of SL CAER have actively worked together to develop, test and successfully implement one common regional emergency notification and deployment system. Members clearly define specific types of scenarios that require immediate notification into centralized dispatch services. Modern computer-based technologies are used to quickly disperse emergency information in a highly controlled manner across the region. As this occurs, dedicated radio channels operate in parallel to ensure real-time updating and full alignment of responder expectations.
Depending on the scenario, local and industrial response teams could be notified, put on standby or deployed as required. Specialized equipment maintained by response teams and/or CAER are also on standby for deployment as needed by Incident Command. CAER Codes are used to help streamline this process.
Scenarios and CAER Codes
Sarnia-Lambton CAER member companies utilize a standardized system to communicate with area Emergency Management Coordinators, Dispatch, and one another in the event of an emergency. This codified system is known as CAER Code Notifications and alerts necessary parties to the nature of an emergency event.
- CODE 5 – Incident outside of industry potentially requiring CAER assistance
- CODE 6 – Potential or confirmed offsite impact
- CODE 7 – Bomb threat
- CODE 8 – Notification by a member of an internal abnormal occurrence
- CODE 9 – Request for municipal fire department
- CODE 9-1 – Request for specified industrial fire equipment
- CODE 9-2 – Request for response by all designated fire departments
- CODE 10 – Verified spill to the St. Clair River
CAER Emergency Notifications to the Public
As emergency responders focus their attention on the incident, dedicated roles within our CAER member sites provide notifications to the public to establish transparency, awareness, and readiness. All public communications regarding an emergency event are vetted through Incident Command / Unified Command to ensure accuracy of the information. To share these updates, CAER members access the SL CAER Everbridge regional notification tool. This tool allows messages to be created and then delivered out to the public using texts, emails, recorded phone message, and posting on social media and website. For more information on how to subscribe to receive these notifications, please visit MyCNN.
In rare circumstances, the local municipality shall be responsible for all emergency notifications and communications where the public is required to shelter in place or evacuate in response to a natural disaster, pandemic or industrial upset.
Sirens
Throughout Lambton County, an integrated notification system alerts residents in the event of an emergency event. This system uses sirens strategically located throughout the county, coordinated television interruptions, and radio broadcasting to inform the public that an emergency event has taken place and any response actions. CAER sirens sound for three minutes to alert the public that a non-routine industry event has taken place. Residents are asked to go indoors and tune to a local radio station for instructions. The CAER sirens are tested every Monday at 12:30pm with the test lasting for approximately 60 seconds.
Radio and TV Connections
Blackburn Radio stations serving Sarnia-Lambton are 1070 AM / 103.9 FM CHOK, 99.9 Fox FM and COOL 106.3 FM. Emergency advisories may also be broadcast over certain YourTV television stations. Viewers will be directed to listen to a local radio station for more information.
CAER Hotline
Local media and municipal websites also provide instruction and information as made available, and the CAER Industry Update Line (1-855-472-7642) is updated with the most current information as it relates to the event.
Equipment and Procedures
CAER Inventory
CAER members own and maintain the following equipment that is readily accessible by all members of CAER:
- Fire fighting foam inventory on a tanker truck
- HAZMAT Decontamination Unit
- Mobile Environmental Monitoring Unit
- Mobile Field Hospital
Regional Inventory
CAER members supply up to date lists of emergency response equipment into CAER so a combined inventory is available for review by all responders. This allows responders to make quick decisions regarding deployment of equipment to emergencies as part of the mutual aid design in Sarnia-Lambton. This inventory includes equipment required for fire, spill, rescue, security, and medical response. This open information sharing underlines the collaborative approach that transforms excellent individual response teams into one integrated team that provides world class response to any conceivable emergency scenario.