Report to/Rapport au :

 

Community and Protective Services Committee

Comité des services communautaires et de protection

 

May 3, 2012

3 mai 2012

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint, City Operations/Opérations municipales

 

 

Contact Person / Personne ressource:  Pierre Poirier, Chief Security and Emergency Management/ Sécurité et Gestion des mesures d’urgence  

613-580-2424 x28627, Pierre.Poirier2@ottawa.ca

 

 

CITY WIDE / À L’ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE

Ref N°: ACS2012-COS-EPS-0022

 

SUBJECT:

 

Security and Emergency Managament Branch – annual update

 

OBJET :

 

SÉCURITÉ ET GESTION DES MESURES D’URGENCE – MISE À JOUR ANNUELLE

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Community and Protective Services Committee receive the Security and Emergency Management Branch 2011 Annual Report.

 

 

Recommandation du rapport

 

Que le Comité des services communautaires et de protection reçoivent à titre d’information le rapport annuel de 2011 préparé par la Direction de la sécurité et la gestion des mesures d’urgence.

 

 

Executive Summary

In 2010, the newly amalgamated Security and Emergency Management Branch, assumed the responsibility for the Office of Emergency Management and Corporate Security Units. As a result of this organizational alignment, 2011 marks the first year in which the Corporate Security Unit reports to Community and Protective Services Committee in conjunction with the Office of Emergency Management Unit through a combined Security and Emergency Management Branch Annual Update.

 

Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for ensuring a secure environment where we live, work and play, and leads the City Services and residents in preventing, preparing, responding and recovering from major emergencies and events.

 

In accordance with the Ontario Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act every municipality is required to develop and implement an Emergency Management Program which reports annually on the progress and level of compliance with the provincial program to Committee and Council. Using a collaborative approach, the Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for administering the City’s Emergency Management Program which includes a public education and awareness program, training and exercise program, an Emergency Operation Centre Control Group and an annual review of the Emergency Plan.   

 

The Ontario Health and Safety Act, as modified by Bill 168 states that an employer shall assess the risks of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work. Security and Emergency Management Branch conducts Threat and Risk Analyses on behalf of the City to address this legislative requirement. A Threat and Risk Analysis is used to proactively identify, mitigate and remediate threats to a workplace, facility or operation, thereby promoting secure environments for staff and residents.

 

Security and Emergency Management Branch continues to work towards improving the City’s ability to protect City employees, assets and to ensure continuity of City services during regular operations, large scale planned events and emergency responses such as the successful evacuation of Kingfisher Lake residents to Ottawa. 

 

The following is a list of some key Security and Emergency Management Branch initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of services provided to residents and City Departments:

·         Coordinating City services and partners in response to planned and unplanned emergency events

·         Performing Threat and Risk Analyses and providing Remedial Action Plans for City facilities and workplaces

·         Conducting Ottawa-based hazard identification and risk assessments

·         Delivering training and development opportunities for city staff, the Service Duty Officer network, Emergency Operations Centre Control Group Members and external City partners

·         Improving administration of the Security Operations Centre and Integrated Security Management System

·         Reviewing and modifying the municipal emergency plan, supporting plans, policies and procedures as approved by Community and Protective Service Committee and Council

·         Implementing the capability of notifying it’s residents of an emergency situation by using the Emergency Community Notification System


 

 

The value of these services provided to residents and other City Departments include:

·         Ensuring the City’s ability to provide a properly coordinated multi-service response to emergencies and large scale events

·         Coordinating the recovery of costs incurred to the municipality during Federally sponsored emergencies and large scale events

·         Educating the community through training and awareness activity on how to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from emergencies

·         Increasing staff and resident knowledge and awareness of general security practices

·         Providing a secure work environment for City staff and a secure environment for residents who attend City facilities

 

The details of these service improvements are outlined within the following themes for the purpose of this report: maintaining legislative requirements, core work activities and responses, and Security and Emergency Management Branch’s 2012 Work Plan.

 

RÉSUMÉ

 

En 2010, la Direction de la sécurité et la gestion des mesures d’urgence récemment fusionnée prenaient la responsabilité du Bureau de gestion des mesures d’urgence et celle du programme de Sécurité municipale. En raison de cette réorganisation, 2011 est la première année où le programme de Sécurité municipale relève officiellement du Comité des services communautaires et de protection ainsi que du Bureau de gestion des mesures d’urgence lors des comptes rendus annuels de la Direction de la sécurité et la gestion des mesures fusionnée.

 

La Direction de la sécurité et la gestion des mesures d’urgence veille à ce que la Ville puisse nous offrir un milieu de vie sécuritaire, que ce soit à domicile, au travail ou dans nos loisirs, et encadrent les résidents et les services municipaux en ce qui concerne la préparation aux situations d’urgence ou de crise majeure, les interventions dans de telles situations, ainsi que la restauration subséquente.

 

La Loi modifiant la Loi sur la santé et la sécurité au travail énonce qu’un employeur doit évaluer les risques de violence en milieu de travail pouvant découler de la nature du milieu de travail, du type de travail ou des conditions de travail. Sécurité municipale mène des analyses de menaces et de risque au nom de la Ville pour respecter cette exigence de la Loi. Ces analyses servent à évaluer de façon proactive les dangers qui menacent une installation des opérations, à déterminer le niveau de risque que représentent ces menaces et à créer un programme de mesures correctives afin d’atténuer les risques encourus par le personnel et les opérations de la Ville.

 

Conformément à la Loi sur la protection civile et la gestion des situations d’urgence de l’Ontario, chaque municipalité doit élaborer et mettre en œuvre un Programme de gestion des situations d’urgence. Ce dernier doit présenter un rapport annuel au Comité et au Conseil municipal concernant le niveau de conformité au Programme de la province. Dans le cadre d’une démarche interservices, le Bureau de gestion des mesures d’urgence a la responsabilité d’administrer le Programme de gestion des situations d’urgence de la Ville et doit prévoir un programme d’éducation et de sensibilisation du public, un programme de formation et d’exercices, un Groupe de contrôle du Centre des opérations d’urgence et une révision annuelle du plan d’urgence.

 

La Direction de la sécurité et la gestion des mesures d’urgence continue de travailler à améliorer la capacité de la Ville à protéger ses employés et ses biens et à maintenir la continuité des services municipaux en situation normale, lors d’interventions d’urgence et lors d’événements planifiés d’envergure. La liste qui suit énumère quelques initiatives clés de la Direction de la sécurité et la gestion des mesures d’urgence qui contribuent à l’amélioration de la qualité des services offerts aux résidents et aux services de la Ville :

·         réalisation d’analyses de menaces et de risques et de plans de mesures correctives;

·         formations sur l’éducation et la sensibilisation à la sécurité publique;

·         intégration des services de sécurité des installations dans le programme de Sécurité municipale;

·         amélioration du système intégré de gestion de la sécurité;

·         offre de formation et de possibilités de perfectionnement au personnel de la Ville, au réseau d’agents de service de la Ville, aux membres du Groupe de contrôle du Centre des opérations d’urgence et aux partenaires externes de la Ville;

·         révision du plan d’urgence de la Ville et soutien aux plans, aux politiques et aux procédures approuvés par le Comité des services communautaires et de protection et le Conseil municipal;

·         coordination des services municipaux et des partenaires advenant une situation d’urgence prévue ou non prévue;

·         mise en œuvre de la capacité à informer les résidents d’une situation d’urgence au moyen du service d’avis à la communauté (en partenariat avec Bell Canada);

·         détermination des dangers et évaluation des risques pour Ottawa.

 

Les améliorations apportées aux services destinés aux résidents et aux autres services de la Ville permettent :

·         de veiller à ce que la Ville ait la capacité de coordonner adéquatement l’ensemble des services lors d’une intervention d’urgence et d’événements d’envergure;

·         de coordonner la récupération des coûts advenant une intervention d’urgence ou un événement d’envergure régi par le gouvernement fédéral;

·         d’informer la collectivité sur la préparation, l’intervention et le rétablissement advenant une situation d’urgence;

·         de rehausser le sentiment de sécurité des résidents et du personnel de la Ville se trouvant dans une des installations de la Ville ou lorsqu’ils utilisent un programme de la Ville.

 

Le rapport présente en détail les améliorations aux services selon les thèmes suivants : observation des exigences de la loi, activités principales et interventions, plan de travail 2012 de la Direction de la sécurité et la gestion des mesures d’urgence.

 

 

Background

Created in 2010, the Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for ensuring a secure environment where we live, work and play, and leads the City Services and residents in preparing for, responding to and recovering from major emergencies and events.

 

Security and Emergency Management Branch is comprised of two Units – the Corporate Security Unit and the Office of Emergency Management Unit. In addition, Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for managing the Corporate Radio System which includes maintenance of radio infrastructure and the administration of approximately 5400 radios used by City Departments including Public Works, Fire, Police, Transit and By-Law Services as well as several external partners including the Canadian Air Transportation Security Authority and the Canadian Border Services Agency.

 

Security and Emergency Management Branch is also responsible for maintaining the 911 Service Level Agreement with the Ottawa Police Service. Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for contracting the 911 service with the Ottawa Police and for negotiating the provision of the Bell 911 Service with Bell Canada. The Ottawa Police Service is responsible for reporting on 911 services annually.  

 

On behalf of the City, the Security and Emergency Management Branch is legislatively required to address the following:

·         The Ontario Health and Safety Act, as modified by Bill 168, which states that an employer shall assess the risks of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work

·         Bill 56, Ontario Emergency Management and the Civil Protection Act which states that every municipality is required to develop and implement an Emergency Management Program that shall include at a minimum, a public education and awareness program, a training and exercise program, an emergency plan, and is required to report annually to Committee and Council on the progress and level of compliance with the provincial program

 

Corporate Security addresses the requirements of the Ontario Health and Safety Act through Threat and Risk Analyses – a process used to proactively evaluate threats to City facilities or operations; determine the risk level associated with these threats and generates a Remedial Action Plan to mitigate risk to City staff and operations.

 

The Office of Emergency Management maintains compliance with Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act through the administration of the City’s Emergency Management Program. Using a multi-departmental approach, the emergency management program provides an integrated approach to emergency management activities that enhance the city’s ability to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from disasters and emergencies, while ensuring continuation of core services.

 

 

DISCUSSION

A)  Corporate Security Unit - Maintaining Legislative Requirements, Core Services and Security Responses:

 

The Corporate Security Unit is responsible for providing and maintaining a secure environment for City employees, volunteers, contractors and the public who utilize City services.  The Corporate Security Unit provides a range of proactive and reactive security services including

 

Threat and Risk Analyses, security system design installation and monitoring, alarm response, event security planning and presence, internal incident investigation, and the provision of Security advice and guidance. This is done through a combination of in-house expert staff and contracted resources such as security guards, alarm response units, surveillance teams, and technicians.

 

Outlined below is a description of some of the Corporate Security Unit’s core services and activities.

 

Threat and Risk Analysis

The Ontario Health and Safety Act as modified by Bill 168, states that an employer shall assess the risks of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work. The Corporate Security Unit addresses this legislative requirement on behalf of the City through the Threat and Risk Analysis process.

 

The Threat and Risk Analysis process proactively identifies threats to City facilities, operations or workplaces; determines the risk level associated with these threats and generates a Remedial Action Plan to mitigate risk to City staff and operations. A Threat and Risk Analysis is performed in consultation with various City services and partners and is based on observations of the environment, interviews with staff, and front line service ride-a-longs. As a result, the City lowers the probability of an incident, reduces the impact when an incident does occur, and helps to promote secure environments for staff and the public to enjoy. Pursuant to a Threat and Risk Analysis, a Remedial Action Plan may identify security system requirements and recommendations for training, changes to policy or procedures and/or changes to the environmental design of a facility or workplace.  

 

Security Operations Centre

The Security Operations Centre operates 24/7 and is the first point of contact for the Corporate Security Unit after business hours. The Security Operations Centre is responsible for coordinating response to security incidents and alarms, the production and programming of photo identification and access cards, and responding to other requests for service.  The Security Operations Center is the centralized reporting and monitoring station for the City’s Integrated Security Management System. 

 

The Integrated Security Management System is used to monitor physical security systems in more than 600 locations city-wide. This system allows for centralized monitoring and administration and supports security operations in a cost effective way. The City has been recognized as a leader in utilizing available technology to realize enhanced security and cost efficiencies.  The system is comprised of more than 25 000 alarm points ranging from cameras, intrusion detection, environmental alarms, and card readers.

 

Incident and Internal Investigations

The Corporate Security Unit conducts internal investigations for security incidents reported from both residents and City staff, as a result of Fraud and Waste complaints, and requests from the Auditor General. An internal investigation that may lead to a criminal investigation or charges is referred to the Ottawa Police Service. 

 

Security System Design and Installation

The Corporate Security Unit is responsible for managing the design, installation and repair of access control equipment, surveillance systems, intrusion alarm systems, fences and gates as well as the renovation retrofit of buildings where the above may already be installed.

 

By-Law Dispatch

By-Law Dispatch is responsible for receiving and prioritizing calls, processing complaints and requests for service, maintaining radio dispatch, assigning vehicles and equipment, and tracking the location of By-Law Officers in the field. 

 

Security Incidents, Activities and Accomplishments

In 2011, the Corporate Security Unit managed, coordinated and responded to more than 5500 activities, projects and incidents including:

·         The completion of 27 “in-the-field” Threat and Risk Analyses for the Paramedic Service (Believed to be Canada’s first Threat and Risk Analysis for a municipal Paramedic Service)

·         The completion of a Threat and Risk Analysis for 4 long-term care homes in Ottawa

·         The implementation of a comprehensive security program for 35 branches of the Ottawa Public Library (includes security system upgrades and revisions to policy and training for library staff)

·         Training of more than 1100 employees, volunteers and contractors of the City of Ottawa on general security awareness, workplace security and crisis prevention

·         Training on bullying and respect in the workplace provided to employees at all City of Ottawa Public Works yards

·         Played an active role in responding to various demonstrations and events including the Occupy Ottawa event

·         Security Advisor identified by leading industry magazine as one of 20 top security professionals under the age of 40

·         Received numerous requests for advice from other municipalities and invitations to speak at international security conferences

 

B) Office of Emergency Management Unit - Maintaining Legislative Requirements, Core Services and Emergency Responses:

 

The Office of Emergency Management Unit incorporates a risk-based, all-hazards approach that integrates emergency management and business-continuity activities to enhance the city’s abilities to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from disasters and emergencies, while ensuring continuation of the City’s core services.   The Office of Emergency Management’s core activities include:

·         Annual review of the City’s Emergency Management Plan

·         Development and delivery of the Training and Exercise Program, Public Education and Awareness Program, and the Specialty Task Forces

·         Coordination of the Emergency Management Information System

·         Coordination of the Corporate Service Duty Officer Network

·         Leadership and coordination over multi-departmental emergency responses as defined in the City of Ottawa Emergency Management Plan approved by Council. 

 

Emergency Management Program

The Ontario Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act require that each municipality identify, implement, and maintain a broad range of initiatives related to the Emergency Plan.  The main components of this plan include delivery of the Are you Ready Public Education and Awareness Program, an Emergency Operations Centre Control Group, the delivery of a Training and Exercise Program to front line staff and senior managers.  In addition, an annual Emergency Operations Centre Control Group Tabletop Exercise, a review of the Emergency Plan and report to Council is required.

 

‘Are You Ready’ Public Education and Awareness

Launched in 2005, the City of Ottawa’s Are You Ready Program is targeted towards residents and businesses providing them with the necessary information to prepare in the event of an emergency or disaster.  Program success is based on community involvement using a grass roots approach to messaging and training.  The Are You Ready Program now includes a volunteer engagement program, including a cadre of 14 trained and screened volunteers who are deployed within the community to provide emergency preparedness training on behalf of the City.

 

Emergency Operations Centre Control Group

Each municipality must have an Emergency Operation Centre Control Group (EOCCG) exercise at least once annually. The EOCCG is comprised of the City Manager, Deputy City Managers, and Senior Managers representing the City Services. The EOCCG table top exercise occurred in September 2011 and was entitled Exercise Tremor which simulated a major earthquake affecting the City.  Over 55 Senior Managers participated in the exercise and were responsible for establishing policy direction to guide the continued delivery of City services and support the City-wide response to the earthquake.

 

Training and Exercise Program

The Emergency Management Training and Exercise Program was developed to meet legislative requirements and to provide key decision makers, emergency response personnel, and critical external partners with the requisite training on their roles and responsibilities in responding to and managing emergencies.  Training courses such as the Ottawa Basic Emergency Management Course are designed to educate emergency response personnel on the core concepts of emergency management, provide information that is specific to Ottawa’s Emergency Plan and contribute to an improved integrated emergency response.

 

In 2011, an Incident Management System (IMS) 200 Course was developed and offered.  The IMS course is a standardized approach to emergency management encompassing personnel, facilities, equipment, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure.[1]  2011 marked the first year of its delivery and three courses were offered with a total of 51 participants. 

 

Emergency Plan

The annual review of the Ottawa Emergency Management Plan was conducted.  The review focussed on demobilization (the activities that occur once a response is over), other functions such as commodity distribution, evacuation and shelter-in-place, and clarified the emergency response escalation criteria.

 

Specialty Task Forces

The Office of Emergency Management Unit is responsible for the development, coordination and administrative management of two Specialty Task Forces: the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Task Force. In 2011, continued effort focused on developing the Ottawa USAR Task Force with progressive monthly training for all Task Force members. The CBRNE Task Force is comprised of members from the Ottawa Police Service, the Ottawa Paramedic Service, the Ottawa Fire Service and Public Health. 

 

Emergency Management Information System

The Emergency Management Information System (EMIS) is a web based application that allows for the real-time sharing of information during events.  Within EMIS, a separate web-based application permits an emergency notification that alerts City staff and key emergency partners of an emergency event.  This same system can also be used to notify residents of an emergency situation in their neighbourhood, which is called Emergency Community Notification System (eCNS). Essentially, eCNS is a reverse 911service wherein the City has the ability to call a resident and notify them of an emergency or provide direction during an emergency.  The criterion for the activation of eCNS is “an imminent or occurring danger which represents a threat for the life, the health or the security of a person”.  In late 2011, all 640,000 landline owners received an insert with their telephone bill informing them of the Enhanced Community Notification Service.  

 

Service Duty Officer Network

The Service Duty Officer Network consists of key staff from each City service that are responsible for sharing and escalating service-specific information as required on a 24-hour basis, 7 days a week to the Security and Emergency Management Duty Officer. Based on the information provided and consultation with the impacted services, the Security and Emergency Management Duty Officer can quickly mobilize the entire Service Duty Officer Network to monitor and provide a coordinated City-wide response. 

 

Emergency Response

While 2011 was a busy year in terms of normal activity and emergency events, the successful evacuation of Kingfisher Lake residents to Ottawa is a good example of City staff coming together to implement emergency plans and response protocols. On July 19 2011, Emergency Management Ontario approached the City of Ottawa to explore the possibility of the City hosting evacuees from Northern Ontario. On July 20th, in partnership with Algonquin College and the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, priority evacuees (primarily the elderly, children and those requiring medical assistance) started arriving in Ottawa.  In total 286 evacuees were housed in residence at Algonquin College until August 1st when they were repatriated home.  Over 300 City Staff representing 17 city services (including Ottawa Police and Transit Services), 71 members from external partners (Red Cross, Salvation Army, Ottawa Airport, Minwaashin Lodge, Odawa, Wabano) participated in the evacuation efforts.  The City’s Emergency Operations Centre was activated for 13 days.

 

This particular event is indicative of the City’s ability to quickly mobilize the services required for such a response and work in collaboration with critical community partners during and after an emergency situation. In addition, Security and Emergency Management coordinated the cost recovery on behalf of all City services and partners and successfully recuperated 100% of all costs associated with this evacuation from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

 

Emergency Management Incidents, Activities and Accomplishments

·         Service Duty Officer Network received 297 notifications and entered into enhanced response mode for 19 emergency and planned events.

·         4 City-wide emergency response debrief sessions and corresponding reports on lessons learned were completed

·         3 Are You Ready Train the Trainer Sessions were delivered (participants are given the tools to conduct emergency preparedness training in their own community)

·         33 Are You Ready Community Information Sessions delivered (participants learn the 7 steps of emergency preparedness on how the City is prepared to respond)

·         24,705 emergency preparedness materials distributed to residents and community partners, including hazard-specific education to neighbourhoods at greatest risk

·         Spring and winter edition of the Emergency Preparedness e-newsletter distributed to over 100 community partners

·         9 Ottawa Introduction to Emergency Management courses delivered to 130 internal and external participants

·         4 Ottawa Basic Emergency Management courses delivered, providing training to 85 internal and external partners including the Ottawa Police, RCMP, US Customs, Canadian Border Security, Commissionaires, the Ottawa Hospitals, Salvation Army, and the Ottawa Airport Authority (91 participants)

·         10 Ottawa Service Duty Officer Training Courses delivered to 83 City of Ottawa staff, including 23 Senior Managers

·         Urban Search and Rescue Task Force planned and delivered monthly training sessions for a Task Force of 59 City personnel including advanced shoring, heavy lift & movement of structural collapsed pieces, structural collapse searching (practical), breaching and breaking of heavy concrete and steel, Urban Search & Rescue theory, and earthquake theory (impact on 1st responders)

·         Leveraged $138,639.35 of new money in rescue and communications equipment through the Federal USAR Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (with a Corporate investment of $46,213.12)

·         CBRNE Task Force conducted regular monthly Advisory Committee meetings, and began the revision of the 2008 City CBRNE Task Force Response Plan for a 2013 release date

 

C) Next Steps: 2012 Security and Emergency Management Branch Work Plan

 

In 2011, Security and Emergency Management Branch is pleased to report that the City of Ottawa met all legislative requirements.  In 2012, the Security and Emergency Management Branch will continue to develop our integrated risk based security and emergency management program.  Some of the key initiatives in 2012 include:

·         Defining service standard levels and formalizing Security policy and procedures

·         Conducting further Threat and Risk Analyses

·         Testing the Emergency Community Notification System in a specific Ottawa community

·         Developing a 5 year Strategic Plan for the Emergency Management Program based on the City’s revised vulnerability analysis and the International Association of Emergency Manager’s Emergency Management Accreditation Program

 

CONCLUSION

 

In as large and diverse an environment such as the City of Ottawa there is a wide range of security threats and issues.  The Corporate Security Unit will continue to proactively identify and remediate these threats, lowering the City probability of incident, reducing the impact when an incident does occur, and helping to promote secure environments for staff and the public to enjoy.

While it’s highly desirable to avoid emergencies, the reality is that events will occur even when the most robust emergency management plans, mitigation measures and training are in place. The Office of Emergency Management Unit will continue to develop a robust emergency management program and work with partners and residents to prepare and respond to any situation.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no specific rural implications associated with this report.

 

CONSULTATION

No consultation was required as this is an administrative report.

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal impediments to receiving the information in this report.

 

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no risk management implications associated with this report.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial implications associated with this report.

 

ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS

The City of Ottawa’s Emergency Management Plan and Are You Ready Program consider the needs of all residents and businesses.

 

Environmental Implications

There are no environmental implications associated with this report. 

 

Technology Implications

There are no immediate technology implications associated with this report.

 

TERm of council priorities

This report has no direct impact on the City’s Strategic Directions.

 

DISPOSITION

Upon approval  of this report by Committee and Council, staff of Security and Emergency Management will maintain and administer the security and emergency management program and the associated activities such as threat and risk analysis, Emergency Management Plan including an annual review and update to Committee and Council.

 



[1] Emergency Management Ontario-Incident Management System for Ontario, December 2008