Government emergency plans

The Alberta Emergency Plan (AEP) ensures effective emergency management in Alberta through an emergency management system dedicated to preparing for, responding to, recovering from and building resilience to emergencies and disasters.

Overall, the plan provides:

• a description of Alberta’s emergency management system
• roles and responsibilities of the government and emergency management stakeholders
• an overview of emergency management governance
• an outline of the Alberta government’s hazard-specific plans
• an overview of government supports available to local authorities
• a description of emergency social services
• an outline of emergency communications systems
• enhanced clarity on how First Nations’ emergency management is supported by the provincial government on behalf of the federal government
• a description of the mechanisms to support continuous improvement
• the proposed components for emergency management system modernization

The AEP is intended for all emergency management stakeholders in Alberta. Questions on the AEP may be directed to:

AEMA Plans
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
Email: [email protected]

The Alberta Incident Management System (AIMS) was introduced in the Alberta Emergency Plan as one of its system modernization initiatives – Alberta Incident Management System (AIMS) 2022 – Working Draft (DOCX, 15 MB).

AIMS is intended to provide all emergency management stakeholders in the province with a common understanding of the organization and structures that will be adopted in Alberta, as well as the processes, procedures, and terminology that will be employed to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.

AIMS guides all levels of government, civil-society organizations, and the private sector to work together, bridging the system described in the AEP and the tactical response structures and mechanisms detailed under the Incident Command System (ICS). AIMS provides stakeholders with the shared vocabulary, systems, and processes to successfully deliver the capabilities described in the AEP and the Emergency Management Framework for Canada (May 2017). AIMS defines operational systems, including ICS, command and coordination structures, as well as resource and information management processes and procedures that guide how personnel work together during incidents. It is important to note that AIMS is supported by ICS, it does not replace ICS, and like ICS, AIMS applies to all incidents, from traffic accidents to major disasters.

A number of benefits are realized by applying AIMS across the emergency management continuum, including:

• reduced incident impacts to people, property, the environment, and the economy
• effective and efficiently controlled response effort
• provision of a safer working environment for all responders

Recognizing the need to work effectively with Alberta’s emergency management community, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency is offering targeted stakeholders the opportunity to review and provide feedback on AIMS 2022. Details on this outreach program will be shared with and through community Directors of Emergency Management. Consolidated feedback will be incorporated into a final version of AIMS, which will be released in the fall of 2022.

If you work in an emergency management organization in Alberta and want more information on this engagement opportunity, contact:

Stephen Carr, Director Field Operations

AEMA Field Operations
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
Email: [email protected]

The purpose of the Dangerous Goods Incident Support Plan is to ensure the safety of persons, property and the environment whenever a dangerous goods incident occurs on Alberta’s transportation network.

For more information please contact the Provincial Operations Centre (POC) at 1-866-618-AEMA (2362).

The Community Emergency Management Program (CEMP) is an on-line tool, which provides communities access to 4 essential emergency management modules:

• Community Self-Assessment
• Community Risk Assessment
• Community Emergency Management Plan
• Document Library

These modules assist in developing, implementing and revising emergency management plans using a standardized format. CEMP assists with coordinating emergency management and recovery through regional efforts.

Alberta communities are encouraged to share emergency management plans and risk assessments, which allows AEMA to collect specific hazard identification and risk assessment data across the province.

The purpose of the First Nation emergency planning model is to assist First Nation communities in developing, implementing or revising their emergency plan.

This planning model uses a standardized format that disperses resources when mutual aid assistance is required. It is an all-hazard approach that maximizes the resources during a response to natural or man-made disasters.

This planning model also addresses the legal, organizational, social and recovery aspects of emergency planning.

The Alberta HIIA Response and Recovery Plan is a comprehensive hazard-specific consequence management plan. HIIA is different from other plans because:

• law enforcement has a defined crisis management role separate from emergency management structures
• the plan applies when the coordination of crisis management (police actions) and consequence management (emergency management) is necessary to resolve a HIIA

The plan clarifies:

• roles
• responsibilities
• communications pathways

Municipalities should update their emergency management plans to reflect the unique characteristics of a HIIA.

The objective of the Earthquake Response Plan for British Columbia (ERPBC) (currently under review) is to coordinate Alberta’s assistance to British Columbia during a catastrophic earthquake.

The plan outlines activities that work together with the federal government's national earthquake support plan and the British Columbia earthquake response plan.

The Mass Fatality Plan:

• helps guide municipalities to make their emergency management plans
• is an operational framework during a mass fatality incident for:
  • first responders
  • municipalities
  • the province