A new mobile Emergency Co-ordination Unit will enable the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) to provide additional support for communities in crisis. The unit is one of 16 jointly funded Canada-Manitoba projects and was rolled out here today by the Honourable Greg Selinger, Premier of Manitoba, and the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety.
“By upgrading our mobile command centre to a much more effective, efficient and technologically advanced unit, our response crews will be much better equipped to help Manitobans in times of emergency and crisis,” said Selinger.
“The federal government plays an important role in helping provinces and territories respond when emergencies strike,” said Toews. “By providing funding for such initiatives we ensure first responders have the tools and training they need.”
The mobile Emergency Co-ordination Unit will be available as an operational centre to support communities in the event of floods, forest fires and other natural or human caused hazardous events. It is built on a five-ton truck chassis and is fully equipped with a generator, satellite capability, communications systems and work stations. The one-piece unit will greatly improve EMO’s ability to integrate operating systems with other responding provincial departments.
The $129,600 vehicle and related equipment is equally funded by the federal and provincial governments through the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP). JEPP is a national program initiated by the federal government to enhance national emergency response capability. It is a joint undertaking between the federal government, the provinces and territories and is administered at the federal level by Public Safety Canada.
A total of 16 JEPP projects were funded in the past year with a total federal contribution of $243,700. As well, two JEPP contributions totalling $686,300 assisted the Urban Search and Rescue team of the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner
