Disaster Buddies
Starting in 2026, our municipality will be creating a phone-tree style neighbourhood check-in plan to use in case of emergencies, built on existing relationships as much as possible. We're asking that folks sign up to volunteer to check on their neighbours in the event of a crisis like Fiona. Talk to the households near you and designate mutual check-in buddies. Write down, or put the municipality's contact info in your device contacts. Make a plan to report buddy households as safe, or let us know if they need support that our Emergency teams could facilitate.
During Fiona, some people had limited access to cellphone service, transportation, and access for many days. Winter emergencies or any requiring evacuation could be even more time sensitive. We'd like to do our best to be able to reach everyone as quickly as possible, connect them with further supports when needed, and make sure no household falls through the cracks.
For now all we need is your civic address and which addresses you're willing to check in on. If households have multiple buddies, all the better!
Any household that is likely to need extra support in case of an emergency can let us know. We'll keep that info private and generalized.
kingstonadminpei@gmail.com Phone: 902-675-3780 (and leave a message, or request a call back).
Volunteering
Our Municipal Emergency Response Team is looking for new volunteers. If you have an interest in being a helper in times of need please get in touch. The commitment is minimal but being properly prepared could mean everything. At minimum it would be a yearly meeting to stay up to date on emergency protocols, but any and all extra help reviewing our emergency plans is welcome and appreciated.
Emergencies and Animals
Some folks may want to take the initiative to plan for animal-specific protocols in the case of emergencies. Meeting space would be provided by the municipality.
Background
Rural Municipalities have taken on the responsibility of having a local Emergency Measures Organization Committee whose role is to coordinate a local response to various types of emergencies. Our local committee and its leadership were scheduled for their first simulated training on November 5, 2022. Fiona had other plans and the EMO Committee were tasked with a real emergency without any real formal training.
I think it is fair to say our EMO Committee got full marks in its response to Fiona. Both Warming Centres opened as soon as possible. After the first day all resources were directed at the Emyvale Rec Centre, providing a gathering place for families, connection to internet, charging stations, water, washroom and kitchen facilities. The coming together of community members to help one another was the silver lining in what was a very challenging time for so many of our residents.
The need for a community response to the Fiona Disaster highlighted the importance of having and EMO presence in Municipality. Please consider either volunteering with the committee or contacting them to offer your help and resources in the event we have a similarly serious emergency in the future.
EMO Lead
Laine Brehaut kingstonadminpei@gmail.com 902-675-3780
Facility Leads
Emyvale Rec Centre: Mark McGillivray emyvalerc@gmail.com 902-388-5019
Kingston 4H Club: Robert Holmes robert.holmes@pei.symaptico.ca 902-626-9289