What is an emergency?
An emergency is a situation or impending situation that could result in serious harm to people or substantial damage to property, which is caused by:
- forces of nature
- a disease or other health risk
- an accident or
- an intentional act
Emergencies can be widespread and/or disastrous events that severely impact the municipality, requiring a coordinated response by a number of public, private, and non-profit agencies.
Assistance may also be required from neighbouring municipalities or from Provincial or Federal levels of government. These types of events can have a substantial impact to the municipality's physical, social, and financial well-being.