Media Advisory - 150 Canadian Red Cross volunteers participate provincial emergency training exercise

LONDON, ON, Oct. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Red Cross is participating in the upcoming provincial emergency training exercise, Trillium Resolve, from Oct. 15-19 in Huron, Bruce, Grey and Wellington counties. The Red Cross will have 150 staff and volunteers on hand to set up shelters as part of the training exercise.

Media are invited for key photo opportunities on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

7AM - 2PM	Mount Forest
Highlights	The Red Cross Disaster Operation Centre is the hub where Red Cross relief efforts will be organized. Red Cross 'sea cans' will deploy from Mount Forest at 9AM en route to Kincardine.
Details	The Disaster Operations Centre is the single point-of-contact for all Red Cross teams working in a disaster area. During the exercise, a Red Cross Disaster Response Team will work from Mount Forest to coordinate roughly 150 volunteers in the field. Specialists will advise on functions such as planning, logistics, human resources and finance.
	During the exercise, the Red Cross will be piloting a new concept for the rapid deployment of relief supplies into disaster areas. Using storage modules known as "sea cans", the Red Cross would be able to mass twice as many materials as it currently can, in a third of the time.
Location	Mount Forest Sportsplex, 850 Princess Street, Mount Forest
11 AM - 5PM	Kincardine
Highlights	Red Cross 'sea cans' are expected to arrive in Kincardine before noon. Shelter operations will be ongoing throughout the day.
Details	When disaster strikes Canadian Red Cross volunteers are there to help. One of the first steps taken is to secure safe and controlled locations for clients affected by the disaster. These are called Registration and Information (R & I) Centres. Here they can register electronically to assist others in locating them, obtain relief supplies (blankets, food, water, clothes, and hygiene items), and even be placed into a Red Cross shelter for overnight accommodation. During the exercise multiple R & I centres, as well as shelters, will be set up.

About the Trillium Resolve

Trillium Resolve is a multi-jurisdictional disaster response exercise developed by Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) and Bruce Power. It will simulate severe weather events impacting large segments of Southwestern Ontario. This exercise will test the province's ability to respond to large-scale emergencies in collaboration with its partners from the federal government, municipalities, NGOs and the private sector.

The training exercise provides a glimpse into how the Red Cross would respond in a real emergency in Ontario.

 

SOURCE: Canadian Red Cross - Ontario Zone

Karen Snider, Media Manager, 416 518 2844, [email protected] or
Colleen Lowe, Communications Advisor, 416 580 2307, [email protected]