Slave Lake Region Community Re Entry Plan Outline

SLAVE LAKE REGION
COMMUNITY RE‐ENTRY PLAN
OUTLINE

May 24, 2011

This plan is a working document and is subject to change as situations or conditions warrant.
Version 3.1

SLAVE LAKE REGION COMMUNITY RE‐ENTRY PLAN OUTLINE
SITUATION
Since the May 14 and 15 evacuations of residents in the Sawridge First Nation, the MD of Lesser
Slave River and the Town of Slave Lake, partners in the response to the devastating impact of
the wildfire have been working collectively to support the needs of evacuated residents. At the
same time responders and utility service providers have been working collectively to make the
area safe for return for residents and businesses. This plan represents the collective efforts
needed from the Government of Alberta, municipalities, the Sawridge First Nation, NGOs, and
utility service providers, knowing that all play a role in rebuilding a community that residents
can proudly call home once again. This plan also represents the collaborative effort of
Consequence Management staff and others of the Government of Alberta Departments,
municipal planners and community members, NGO Council, and utility service providers
conducted on May 20 at the Emergency Operations Centre in Slave Lake.
MISSION
To enable the return of residents to their communities in a safe and orderly fashion with a view
to supporting further recovery and long‐term restoration activities.
Concept of Operations
This stage of the recovery operation will involve the collective efforts of all key players and is
designed to meet the re‐entry criteria in the shortest possible timeframe. Detailed coordination
on a daily basis between the Emergency Operations Centre and the Provincial Operations
Centre is essential. Each provincial government department and local agency will keep their
respective operations centre informed of their progress and activities at the provincial and local
level on a daily basis. This is a four phased operation.

• Phase 1 – Recovery of Critical Infrastructure. This phase is ongoing. It entails repairs and
restoration to critical infrastructure and utilities to allow essential service workers to
return and perform their key functions.

• Phase 2 – Manning of Essential Services. This phase will see the movement of essential
workers (those individuals and their immediate family that support the critical
infrastructure, protective, health and fire services and governance of the community) to
either their undamaged homes or temporary accommodations in the region to
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man/service all functions in Phase 1. This phase ends when all of the re‐entry criteria
have been met.

• Phase 3 – Reestablishing Regional Key Business Components. This phase will see the
move of business owners and workers of businesses that are undamaged to either
undamaged homes or temporary accommodations in the region. This phase will also
include the move of workers to retrieve their business vehicles and/or tools and depart
the area.

• Phase 4 – General Re‐entry of Evacuees. This phase will commence on order issued by
the EOC and will see the general move of those with no damage to their house return by
geographical location. This will be supported by a traffic plan.

Re‐entry Criteria
The decision by the Emergency Operations Centre to commence Phase 3 to allow for the re‐
entry of residents must meet all of the following criteria:
‐ Water declared potable by Alberta Health Services,
‐ The ‘Slave Lake’ and ‘South Shore’ wildfires designated ‘Being Held’ by Sustainable
Resource Development,
‐ Essential Services including governance, utilities, 911 and protective services declared in
operation by the Emergency Operations Centre,
‐ Health services declared in operation by Alberta Health Services, and
‐ Re‐entry support including temporary housing and the Community Social Centre
declared open by the Emergency Operations Centre.
Sequencing
To establish a safe community, the Emergency Operations Centre (representing the Sawridge
First Nation, the MD of Lesser Slave River and the Town of Slave Lake) will continue to lead,
coordinate and direct the activities of all key agencies and responders in the emergency area.
Concurrent with the work underway to achieve the re‐entry criteria, action by key agencies will
be undertaken to support the safe and orderly return including:
• Perimeter fencing in place around high risk areas,
• Development and delivery of a communication strategy to notify business, residents and
neighbouring communities of re‐entry procedures,
• The completion of need assessments by residents,

• The re‐establishment of essential retail ‐ food, pharmacy, gas and banking,
• The development and implementation of a garbage and sanitation plan, and
• The completion of inspections of damaged homes to verify if they are safe.
Once all criteria and supporting actions are complete, the Emergency Operations Centre will
notify the Provincial Operations Centre of the time that re‐entry can commence to support a
safe and orderly return of residents, which will be supported by a communications and
movement plan from the Emergency Operations Centre.

The Emergency Operations Centre, through deployment of protective services will ensure a safe
and orderly return of residents. The Provincial Operations Centre will arrange for ground
transportation as required. Residents with vehicles may return to the community on their own.
Once residents have returned to their communities, inspections will be conducted and gas and
power will be restored on a site‐by‐site basis. Each household will receive a re‐entry kit that
provides an information package detailing local support services, information on utility
restoration and basic cleaning supplies. A Community Social Centre will be established to
support the social services needs of residents as they return to their community. The
Community Social Centre will be supported by relevant Government of Alberta Departments
and will work collaboratively with the Slave Lake Regional leadership. A waste management
plan will be established to deal with the mass of household and business waste.
To the greatest extent possible, arrangements will be made for those residents who have lost
their dwelling to find and create temporary accommodations in the community. Due to the
magnitude of this disaster there will be some residents who will have to remain in interim
accommodations outside of the Slave Lake region. The very best effort will be made to move as
quickly and safely as possible to create the accommodation spaces after Phase 4. This could
take many months to complete. A medium term plan will be created to address the recovery
efforts after re‐entry is complete.
The decision to demobilize or scale back service delivery at supporting Reception Centres will
rest with the Provincial Operations Centre.
This plan transitions from initial re‐entry activities to return of long‐term displaced residents.
Progress on this plan will be reported through communications with the residents and the
media, formal Situation Reports between the Provincial Operations Centre and the Emergency
Operations Centre, and updated information at the reception and Community Social Centres.

Tasks
Emergency Operations Centre (representing the Sawridge First Nation, the MD of Lesser Slave
River and the Town of Slave Lake):
‐ Establish the priority and procedures for re‐entry,
‐ Coordinate and synchronize operations, planning, logistics, finance and administration
activities with the Provincial Operations Centre,
‐ Develop supporting plans to this plan and future plans as needed,
‐ With the local authorities and Housing and Urban Affairs staff, establish the priority for
the occupation of interim housing based on the needs assessment,
‐ Provide Housing and Urban Affairs with the status of damaged houses for re‐occupation
to support interim housing needs,
‐ Support the re‐establishment of essential retail,
‐ Activate the Community Social Centre,
‐ Coordinate and task agency partners (ATCO, TELUS and inspection agencies) to
complete damage home inspections and restore utilities,
‐ Coordinate protective services during the movement of residents returning into the
community,
‐ Coordinate area tour for residents of destroyed homes,
‐ Coordinate site re‐entry of damaged, uninhabitable homes,
‐ Coordinate the procurement and assembly of re‐entry kits for residents, and
‐ Secure a maintenance facility in Widewater for fire equipment and vehicles,
‐ Implement a sanitation plan, and
‐ Declare the re‐entry date and time (Re‐entry Day is the commencement of Phase 4).
Common to all Government of Alberta Departments:
‐ Provide a Consequence Management Officer at the Government of Alberta Provincial
Operations Centre in accordance with the Alberta Emergency Plan until otherwise
advised, and
‐ Maintain strong liaison with your respective Consequence Management Officer to
ensure a common operating picture.
Alberta Health Services:
‐ Recover the delivery of health services in the community.

Housing and Urban Affairs:
‐ Provide accommodation in the affected communities for essential services workers as
identified through needs assessments,
‐ With Red Cross, finalize needs assessments for all evacuees,
‐ Provide staff to support the Community Social Centre,
‐ Working with the municipalities and First Nation, utilize vacant lots for temporary
housing,
‐ Identify private sector vacancies in the community,
‐ Source and install trailer supply,
‐ Confirm and use innovative housing options available (e.g. campus dorms, work camp,
hotels),
‐ Confirm social housing requirements and implement rent supplement program, and
‐ Finalize with Alberta Seniors and Community Supports an interim accommodation plan
for seniors.
NGO Council:
‐ Create re‐entry kits and develop plan for distribution, and
‐ Provide volunteers to support recovery efforts as requested by the Emergency
Operations Centre.
Red Cross:
‐ With Housing and Urban Affairs, coordinate housing requirements,
‐ Finalize registration process using standard Red Cross procedures, and
‐ Finalize Needs Assessment using standard Red Cross procedures.
Infrastructure:
‐ Support the recovery of critical infrastructure with the community, and
‐ Lead a damage assessment team for provincial property.
Employment & Immigration:
‐ Provide staff to support the Community Social Centre, and
‐ Coordinate with Federal Government in support of temporary foreign workers.

Environment:
‐ Support the recovery of critical infrastructure within the community.
Finance and Enterprise:
‐ Provide staff to support small business resumption through the Community Social
Centre.
Alberta Emergency Management Agency:
‐ Lead the Government of Alberta Provincial Operations Centre,
‐ Lead requests for support and assets with the Government of Canada (including Canada
Post),
‐ Arrange for the provision of buses from the Reception Centres and interim
accommodation back to the community,
‐ Purchase security fencing,
‐ Establish contract for waste removal,
‐ Be prepared to examine and recommend fridge and freezer subsidies related to damage
associated with this event,
‐ Advise Directors of Emergency Management in all communities of plan,
‐ Coordinate insurance advice through The Insurance Bureau of Canada, and
‐ Coordinate with tasked Government of Alberta Departments to ensure service is
provided at the Community Social Centre.
Children and Youth Services:
‐ Provide staff to support the Community Social Centre.
Municipal Affairs:
‐ Provide staff to directly support the Municipal Councils.
Seniors and Community Supports:
‐ Provide staff to support the Community Social Centre, and
‐ Coordinate with Housing and Urban affairs interim accommodation for seniors.
Service Alberta:
‐ Arrange for advice, benefits and services to residents to include:
o Provide staff to support the Community Social Centre, and

o Personal documentation (birth certificates, government ID).
Sustainable Resource Development:
‐ Continue to provide situational awareness on the status of the wildfires in the area.
Tourism, Parks and Recreation:
‐ Coordinate the use of Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park for interim travel
accommodation with Housing and Urban Affairs.
Alberta Health & Wellness:
‐ Provide advice and services to residents and business in coordination with Alberta
Health Services, and
‐ Coordinate with Red Cross required medical services based on needs assessment.
Aboriginal Relations:
‐ Provide advice, liaison and the facilitation of connections to affected First Nations’
communities.
Public Affairs Bureau:
‐ Prepare key messages for residents on the re‐entry plan,
‐ Prepare key messages for staff at each location,
‐ Continue to provide assistance on site should media be present, and
‐ Provide updated information to the Alberta Support Hotline.
Community Social Centre
A ‘one‐stop‐shop’ will be established within the community to provide residents with
information and resources to support re‐entry. This would include social services (such as post
traumatic stress counseling) and administrative support, such as personal documentation. The
centre will be established by the Emergency Operations Centre and rely upon the support of
Government of Alberta Departments.
Common Operating Picture and Lead by Location
‐ The emergency Operations Centre will coordinate all activities at the community level
within the emergency area. They are responsible to maintain the common operating
picture.

‐ The Alberta Emergency Management Agency leads the Government of Alberta
Provincial Operations Centre. The Provincial Operations Centre will coordinate all
activities at the provincial level in support of the Emergency Operations Centre to
achieve this mission.
External Communications
‐ External communications in support of this plan should move through the Provincial
Operations Centre Communications Section for review by the Government of Alberta
Public Affairs Bureau.

This document was endorsed by the Honourable Hector Goudreau, Minister of Municipal
Affairs, and the elected officials of, the MD of Lesser Slave River and the Town of Slave Lake on
May 22, 2011 and has been achieved through consultation of the above municipalities and with
the Sawridge First Nation.

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