By being able to register online as soon as an emergency is declared, Albertans can quickly access government services. The MyAlberta Emergency Registration System (MAERS) also removes the need for in-person contact, reducing the risk of potential COVID-19 exposure for staff and evacuees.
“Getting services to Albertans safely and quickly is vital when disaster strikes. Providing online registration for evacuees and their pets is one more tool in our tool belt. The result is better preparedness to provide assistance, while minimizing the spread of COVID-19.”
When an emergency is declared, Albertans who need to evacuate will be directed to register online through the MAERS. Albertans without internet access or those having trouble with online access can call the Government of Alberta call centre (310-0000) to register over the phone.
Government and local municipal emergency management leaders use the information collected through the online registration system to support Alberta families who have had to leave their homes during an emergency evacuation. The MAERS helps government and local municipalities monitor the number of families registered and assess emergency social service needs. For example, residents may need a place to stay, their pets may need to be collected and cared for, and their families may need food, finances and other essential supplies.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Quick facts
- The new, secure online tool builds upon the current Registration and Reception Centre Program (RRCP) system used last year to register evacuees during the northern Alberta flooding disaster.
- MAERS data is uploaded into the larger RRCP system. RRCP tracks where evacuees have been relocated and tracks the number of staff assigned to evacuation facilities.
- RRCP monitors the movement of families from one facility or region to another, ensuring evacuees are accounted for during a large-scale or complex emergency.
- The systems provide real-time information and support for municipalities affected by an emergency or evacuation in preparing for, responding to or recovering from emergencies.
- The online registration systems are part of government’s response to recommendations made in the 2017 KPMG Wood Buffalo Wildfire Post-Incident Assessment Report to develop a provincial registration system and a supportable reception centre system.
- The new online registration system will also be used for emergencies that do not require an evacuation. Shelter-in-place emergencies may include a hazardous material spill, train derailment, active shooter in the area or a storm that has caused a power outage or debris on the road.
- Residents are able to register themselves and their pets with MAERS.