Community Emergency Management

Programs, Events & Training

Public Safety Canada

  • MACA has primary responsibility for emergency management on behalf of the GNWT.
  • Public Safety Canada is the Federal Government’s lead department for public safety and emergency management. PSC is responsible for the development and implementation of national policies for emergency management and national security.
  • Coordinated by MACA, the GNWT maintains a state of territorial readiness for emergency response through arrangements established in the NWT Emergency Plan under the authority of the Civil Emergency Measures Act.
  • Similarly, Public Safety Canada performs the overall coordinating role in emergency preparedness and response on behalf of the Government of Canada with regard to national emergencies and in support of Federal Government departments’ lead agency response.

Ground Search and Rescue Training Standards

  • The NWT has a relatively small population, but it is a large territory with severe geographic and climatic conditions. These conditions require that any Ground Search and Rescue Standards developed would take these conditions forefront in the design.
  • The NWT Ground Search and Rescue Training Standards have been reproduced and distributed to all RCMP Detachments, current Ground Search and Rescue Teams, and Search Managers for their use.
  • The development of the NWT Ground Search and Rescue Training Standards ensures that there are approved standards that Search and Rescue responders and organizations in the NWT must meet. This standardized system will ensure that existing and newly-formed Ground Search and Rescue teams and responders employed in the NWT can be efficiently used by either the RCMP or their Community, and that they are adequately trained in order to meet the requirements of the Workers Compensation Board.
  • The Program, which was completed in 2006, was developed in partnership with the Federal government's National Search and Rescue Secretariat using the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund.
  • The Program is comprised of three components:
    • NWT Ground Search and Rescue Level 1 – Basic Responder Standards;
    • NWT Ground Search and Rescue Level 2 – Team Leader Standards; and
    • NWT Ground Search and Rescue Level 3 – Search Manager Standards.
  • Each component of the Program is comprised of eight Teaching Points:
    • Search and Rescue Program;
    • General Operations;
    • Navigation;
    • Telecommunications;
    • Search;
    • Lost Person Behaviour;
    • First Aid; and
    • Managing the Search Function.

Youth Search and Rescue Prevention Program

The Youth Search and Rescue Prevention Program is an education tool designed to prevent youth from becoming the subjects of a search and rescue mission. The GNWT developed this tool in response to concerns voices during community consultations on the Northwest Territories Search and Rescue Prevention Strategic Plan .

  • The program for Youth Search and Rescue prevention has been distributed to the Education, Culture and Employment by MACA for them to implement into their curriculum.
  • The goal of the program is to teach young people how to survive on the land if they are alone and away from their communities.

Ground Search and Rescue Information System Database

  • The Northwest Territories' Ground Search and Rescue Information System database will be accessible by MACA Emergency Management Staff.

Radio Communications Infrastructure Study

  • The Radio Communications Infrastructure Study is available for use by any NWT response organization.

Emergency Preparedness Week

If a major storm hit your community, would you be ready? Do you have food and supplies on hand to survive three days until help arrives?

Three days is the amount of time you must be able to survive without outside help if the power goes out, a violent winter storm occurs, or you are forced out of your home by a flood. Three days is the time it may take territorial or community emergency measures organization (EMO) officials to get material, supplies, or workers into a disaster site.

Emergency Preparedness Week, which is held the first full week every May, is an appropriate time to think about what you would do in case of an emergency. Many people do not worry about emergency preparedness until a disaster strikes. People should be aware of the risks that may affect their community and know what to do in the event disaster strikes.

If you would like information on how to prepare for an emergency, pick up a copy of the new Individual and Household Emergency Preparedness Guide, available at your community government office. In it, you'll find advice on how to put together an emergency plan and a kit for your home. You can also contact MACA's Community Emergency Management at emo_coordinator@gov.nt.ca, or (867)873-7083. You can also contact your regional superintendent for help with emergency planning.

During Emergency Preparedness Week, take a little time to work on your own individual or family emergency plan and assemble an emergency kit. Be familar with your community's emergency plan and know what to do if a disaster strikes. By being prepared, you may be able to save you and your family from danger or hardship.

Contact Info:

Territorial Emergency Management
Community Emergency Management