SPRING INFORMATION PACKAGE FOR
RESIDENTS OF
MOOSE FACTORY ISLAND
It's that time of year again when our little town of Moose Factory and its residents are
preparing for the annual spring harvest. Our town at some point in April becomes more
of a ghost town.
While preparing for the annual spring hunt, you and your family should take the time to
prepare for any emergency situation that we may encounter during spring break-up.
We should be asking ourselves. Is my family prepared for an Emergency? Do we know
what to do in the event of an Emergency?
This information package will give you and your family ideas on how to prepare for a
power outage, flood emergency and/or an evacuation.
Please go through all the information that is provided for you and your family.
Preparation is key!
Make sure you and your family are prepared for an
emergency!
Information Package Outline:
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Introduction, where MFIFR receive reports and Water Station Locations
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Emergency Preparedness ...Are You Prepared?
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Emergency Response Plan & Emergency Control Group
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72 hour Emergency Kit (flood or power outage)
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Emergency Grab and Go Bag (Evacuation bag)
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Community Preparation & Evacuation Procedures
Where information can be heard and viewed in regards to notices and
publications on break-up and Evacuation Procedures
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Notice to all hunters and campers along the Moose River
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Copy of River Surveillance Updates and where to' find them and listen to the
updates
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Contact Numbers in case of an Emergency
The most commonly used term for all residents in Moose Factory during the spring is
"Flood". Moose Factory sure had some close calls (1 in 76 and another in 2008), really
testing the preparedness for all of Moose Factory and Moosonee. Moose Factory Island
Fire & Rescue takes on the roles for River Surveillance and are Moose Factory Island's
Community Emergency Response Plan's COMMUNITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
COORDINATORS (Mike Delaney, Curt Wesley)
During the spring, we rely on many factors in preparing for potentially high water due to
break-up. We receive reports for:
Snow Depth, Water Levels/Flow Rates, OPG Daily Reports (open dams), and of course
the local knowledge of our elders on waterways, snow and spring weather. River
Surveillance reports start when the water flow rates and discharge levels increase in the
following waterways: Moose River, Missinaibe River, Abitibi River, French River, and
Kwatabohegan River.
During break-up we would like remind people of the dangers break-up in Moose
Factory.
Stay off the ice, stay clear of the breaking ice, and do not stand in an area that
may put you at danger from ris-ing water and piling ice. Please remind all your
child(ren) to remain clear of the river banks and always be sure they are supervised by
an adult when observing break-up.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
ARE YOU PREPARED?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY?
While no one ever wants to think about disaster striking, the simple truth of the matter is
that we are all vulnerable to becoming victims of some type of natural disaster or
emergency situation. If that should happen, it is crucial that we be prepared. According
to Emergency Management Ontario (EMO), thousands of people are affected by
disasters each and every year. The results of such disaster and emergency situations
can be far ranging. When such an emergency arises, it is essential that you and your
family are prepared.
One of the best ways you can be assured of such emergency preparedness is to make
sure you have an emergency plan in place. Having such an emergency plan can go a
long way toward reducing the fear that can arise from the unknown. An emergency plan
can also help to mitigate personal losses that might be incurred. A great first step
toward being prepared for an emergency is to make sure you are aware of all available
community resources. For instance, if there is flooding about to occur, do you know
where you can take shelter? If you should need to leave your home, do you know the
location of emergency shelter sites?
Your emergency preparedness planning should also include knowing the proper way to
respond to specific types of emergency situations that might naturally occur in your
regional geographic location. The best way to prepare for potential dangers is to
recognize the potential that may exist. For instance, if you live in an area that is prone to
flooding, it is important to take the necessary steps to protect your home from flooding
to help alleviate potential losses.
A survival kit is also important to emergency preparedness. An emergency kit is meant
to ensure you and your family members will have all of the necessary items for basic
survival. Such items should include a three-day water and food supply for each person,
blankets, radio, hygiene items, prescription medication and a flashlight and batteries. To
ensure you are always prepared for an emergency, it is also crucial to check on your
emergency kit approximately every six months to ensure medications are not outdated
and food items are not expired. An emergency kit will benefit you little if you are not able
to use the items stored away.
While it is impossible to prevent a disaster or an emergency from taking place, you can
take steps to ensure you are prepared.
Is there a plan in place for Moose Factory? Yes, there is. The Moose Factory Island
Community Emergency Response Plan is tailored to the community of Moose Factory
and covers wide range emergency situations. This plan consists of an Emergency
Operations Control Group that involves all levels of government of Moose Factory
(FederaIIWAHA, Provincial/Local Services Board and the Moose Cree First Nation)
which work closely with Emergency Management Ontario and Mpose Factory's new
Red Cross satellite office.
Every year in March the Emergency Operations Control Group has a meeting, updates
Moose Factory's Emergency Response Plan and is ready for the spring season and
new year.
Moose Factory Island Community Emergency
Response Plan
EMERGENCY AS DEFINED IN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CIVIL
PROTECTION ACT:
Emergency; means a situation or an impending situation that constitutes a
danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to persons or
substantial damage to property and that is caused by the forces of nature, a
disease or other health risk, an accident or an act whether intentional or
otherwise.
CRITERIA FOR DECLARING A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
Making a declaration of a state of local emergency is based on the following criteria:
-A situation has occurred that constitutes a danger of major proportions to life or
property;
-The resource capability of the community of Moose Factory is overwhelmed, and
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CONTROL GROUP
The Emergency Operations Control Group is made up of members from different
organizations throughout the community. Each group/member identified below have
their specific roles during an emergency situation.
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Chief Community Official
Emergency Management Coordinator
Police Officer
Fire Chief
Medical Health
Social Services
Moose Cree First Nation Health Services
Communications Officer
Public Works
Public Information's Officer
Operations Officer
MoCreebec
Local Services Board
Moose Band Development Corporation
EXAMPLE OF A 72 HOUR EMERGENCY KIT
The Red Cross recommends that you keep a disaster preparedness kit in your home
with enough supplies to meet your family's needs for at least 72 hours. By taking some
time now to store emergency food, water and other supplies, you can provide for your
entire family.
Store these supplies together in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as suitcases on
wheels or backpacks in case you need to evacuate your home:
• Water: During an emergency, tap water can become polluted or supply may be
cut off. Store two litres of drinking water and two litres of water for washing per
person, per day, keeping a 72 hour supply on hand for your family and any pets.
Listen to public announcements about treating the water in your area after a
disaster. Once per year, make use of your water supply and add fresh water to
your kit.
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Food: Store at least a 72 hour supply of non-perishable food for each person.
Select foods that are compact and lightweight, non-perishable and require no
refrigeration, cooking, preparation or added water. Every six months, check the
expiration dates of your food items. Ensure that there is enough for each member
of your family.
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Manual can opener
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Crank or battery-operated flashlight, with extra batteries
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Crank or battery-operated radio, with extra batteries
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Extra keys, for house and car and a First Aid Kit
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Cash in small bills
(Special needs items - medications, baby formula and diapers, and equipment for
people with disabilities.)
Additional items to consider
• Change of clothing and footwear for each person
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Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
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Pet food and pet medication
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Garbage bags and twist ties
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Toilet Paper
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Multi-tool or basic tools (hammer, wrench, screwdriver, etc.)
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Duct tape
Plastic sheeting
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Scissors or pocket knife
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Whistle
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Hand sanitizer
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Personal hygiene items
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Important family documents (copies of birth and marriage certificates, passports,
licenses, wills, land deeds and insurance)
Emergency Grab Sag ...Why do we need them?
Every spring season Moose Factory Island residents run the risk of a potential
precautionary evacuation or full evacuation. With the potential risk we need to prepare
ourselves to move at a moment's notice. In the event of an evacuation we have to
prepare to travel and to travel light.
In the event of an evacuation there will be very little time to think about what you may
need and it is therefore important to prepare the possibility of being evacuated and the
conditions you will be exposed to. We there-fore encourage residents to make their own
Emergency Grab Bag which is prepared in advance, kept in an easy to reach place that
everyone knows about and taken with you should the need arise. An example of what
you may want to put in the bag is given below.
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A copy of your Family Emergency Plan
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Very important family documents, recent family photo, birth certificates, health
cards, passports ...etc.
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Extra set of clothes ( 1 set per bag)
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A basic first aid kit
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Flashlight and spare batteries
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A cell phone and charger or a satellite phone
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Battery operated or wind up radio
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A small blanket
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Non perishable food (cereal bars etc)
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Notepad and pen
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Spare keys house keys
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Money or an emergency credit card
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Bottle of water
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Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, brush, shaver ...etc.)
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Copy of any medical prescriptions
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Contact information businesses, family members cell phones and emergency
personnel
This list can be tailored to your own individuals or family needs but it is important
that the bag is kept to a reasonable size.
Every person that is evacuated will be limited to one bag per
person with a maximum weight limit of 401bs.
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Community Preparation
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EvacuationProced ures
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This Community Preparation & Evacuation Procedures has been prepared for
the general public's awareness and to assist with preparedness during
emergencies that involves the community emergency planning.
This document is to be taken seriously as it will assist you in safely preparing for
emergencies that the community can encounter at any given time. The
information provided, will help you understand what you need to do during the
preparation and/or evacuation process
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1.0 Preparation
Below are items that you, the evacuee, are encouraged to pack in the event of a
Preparation Notice of an evacuation to the community members and other
related community emergencies that you should be prepared for.
Pack the following items in one fair size bag per person:
- Extra clothing;
- Personal hygiene supplies;
ALL personal identification & informational card/s, financial access
cards, money;
- ALL prescribed medications and/or other medical health needs;
- ALL household and vehicle key/s;
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Preparing your home for an evacuation:
- Shut off the main water valves;
- Shut off your electricity on your panel box (main breaker);
- Close ALL windows;
- Lock ALL doors;
- Preventative maintenance for unwanted entries;
Below are other items that should be considered for similar and other types of
emergencies:
Other supplies that should be packed in bins/boxes for other emergencies:
- Candles, matches, lighters
Non-perishable foods
Flashlight/s
- Personal hygiene supplies
- Whistle
AM/FM radio or crank radio
- Leisure Supplies, i.e. Cards
Spare batteries
First aid kit
- Other special needs for you
- Baby supplies
Other special needs for your
Family members
2.0 Procedures
The alerting stage has been established for the betterment of the publics
understanding and to assist with major decisions that would involve the
Life Safety and property of the Community. These alerting stages will be
utilized according to surveillance flights and pole markers around the
community.
Each stage is colour coded to its alert stage. i.e. Code Pink would be
Stage 2.
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ALERTING
STAGES/CODES
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN/CONSIDERED
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; Stage 2 - Advisory
Alert
Code Pink
Stage 3 - Warning
Alert
Code Orange
Stage 4 - Major
Alert
Code Green
Stage 5 - Critical
Alert
Code Blue
Stage 6 - Severe
Alert
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- Break-up has begun & river surveillance flights are
underway with community updates to the public and
community officials will follow after each flight
- Parents encouraged to caution their children on the
dancers near the riverbanks
- Water Levels are rising, break up is within 20 miles
upriver (Cheepash River)
- Parents to be aware of children's whereabouts
- Community members are encouraged to stay off the
river
- Water levels continue to rise
- Community members to be on stand-by accordingly to
the preparations and procedures, Seniors to prepare for
relocation on the island
- Family member's are encouraged to stay together
- Water reaching critical level's
- Family member's to stay together for safety and be
prepared for evacuation purposes
- WGH shall consider evacuating disabled hospital
patients
- The community shall wait for evacuation signals from
emergency personnel, radio station's & community
channel
- Evacuation process begins
- Transportation to the evacuation points begin
( Code Red
Should the community be affected by rising waters that; endangers the lives and
property of Moose Factory and its members, a State of Emergency will be
declared by the MCFN Chief. The evacuation process will take place starting with
priority given as per the determined order of evacuation.
The order of evacuation as stated in the Community Emergency Plan is as
follows:
1. Seniors 60 & over, disabled hospital patient's, emergency service
personnel families & Awashishuk Center client's and the Emergency
Operations Control Group family members, i.e. (wife/husband/spouse,
children)
2. Woman and Children 18 & under (stay together)
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3. Remaining men, emergency services personnel, escorts, receiving teams,
operators
4. Emergency Operations Control Group
As per the Evacuation Alerting procedures, the alerting stages/codes will be in
effect and utilized for the general public's understanding. The codes will be on
community bulletins through all means necessary as mentioned below.
Community members are asked to stand by for instruction from Designated
Community Officials, through the following:
Community Channel 10/22
107.1 The Island Radio
CHMO Radio
Emergency Vehicle's with flashing light's, sirens and P.A. systems.
Once notified that your area will be affected, you will be relocated to the
evacuation pointls for the specified type of evacuation.
Please do the following in a calm matter:
1. Ensure that each individual in your residence has his/her personal
preparation bag as mentioned in 1.0 Preparation,
2. Turn off ALL lights, lock ALL doors and windows prior to leaving
your home as mentioned in 1.0 Preparation.
(If any light is on, emergency services personnel will check the
home to ensure its vacancy),
3. Proceed to your evacuation pointls by one of the following;
i. Your personal vehicle QL.
ii. Wait outside your residence until you are picked up and
escorted to the evacuation pointls by designated personnel
Q.C
Ill.
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Make plans with your neighbor's or family member's to
ensure you get to the evacuation points should you not have
a personal vehicle.
Once you arrive at your designated evacuation point, you will need to check in
with the receiving team, once you have been registered, you will be placed in
order of the evacuation and await your departure.
EVACUATION LOCATIONS
For the purposes of designated Evacuation Centers for the community residents,
the community has been divided in two areas and local evacuation centers are
as follows:
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1)
The Community Complex and the Thomas Cheechoo Jr. Memorial
Complex have been designated as the evacuation centers for those
residing within the Moose Cree First Nation Reserve.
2)
The Ministik School 658-4535 has been designated as the evacuation
center for those residing within the Local Services Board, MoCreebec,
and School Board jurisdictions.
3)
Weenebayko General Hospital shall operate according to their
Emergency Measures Manual.
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BREAK-UP NOTIFICATIONS & UPDATES
Where to find BREAK-UP bulletins
www.moosecree.com
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Moose Cree First Nation website
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Moose Factory Island Fire Rescue Facebook page
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Flyers at the following locations (Moose Cree Complex Foyer, GG's True Value,
Northern Quick Stop, Hospital Entrances) on bulletin boards.
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107.1 The Island (local fm radio station)
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CHMO 1450 (local am radio station)
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MRBA Channel 22
If you know of any person(s) who do not have access to tv, radio or internet access,
please forward/relay any break-up information or emergency information to them.
NOTICE TO ALL HUNTERS & CAMPERS ALONG MOOSE RIVER
Hunters/Campers who camp in areas that is prone to potential flooding along the Moos
River.
Moose Factory Island Fire Rescue has a seasonal budget for River Surveillance and
Emergency Planning. This fund is used for Emergency Planning and to conduct river
surveillance flights only, and not to cover the cost of rescues. Once there are increased
water levels and discharge levels at water stations up the river MFIFR will start to
conduct River Surveillance flights of the Moose River and its tributaries.
It should be understood that all hunters who travel to their spring camps are responsible
for their own travel arrangements and expenses to and from camp. We are sending the
following message out to all hunter and campers that:
If you are hunting/camping in an area that is prone to flood waters (along rivers. Low
lying areas/islands or along the mouth of the Moose River and etc) and you and your
family have to be rescued/picked up by the fire department, you will be billed the cost to
and from your camp/location.
Please be in regular contact with family members or MF local radio station for regular
updates on water levels, break-up locations and river surveillance updates from the
Moose Factory Island Fire Rescue.
Plan Ahead and Be Safe!
MOOSE FACTORY ISLAND FIRE RECUE
RIVER SURVEILLANCE REPORT # 1
DATE:
TIME:
A river surveillance fight was taken this morning/afternoon and the following
was noticed at the locations listed below:
South Bluff Creek Bushy Island South End French RiverKwatabohegan RiverAbitibi RiverCheepash RiverMoose River Crossing Moose River (main river) Missinaibie River The flow rates and water levels that are monitored at Moose River
remain at normal. All other rivers/creeks remain normal for this time
of the year.
Another flight will take place tomorrow to monitor water level behind the
break up.
The Moose Factory Island Emergency Management urges ALL
residents to remain off the river.
PLEASE KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE RIVER BANKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION
IN KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE.
MOOSE FACTORY ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE
CONTACT INFORMATION
Moose Factory Island Fire & Rescue (Fire Department)
FIRE & RESCUE
Chris Alisappi-Fire Chief
705-658-4643 ext. 224
Email: chris.alisappi@moosecree.com
FIRE & RESCUE
Michael Delaney-Assistant
Fire Chief/Training Officer
705-658-4643 ext. 225
Email: michael.delaney@moosecree.com
Curt Wesley-Fire
Prevention Officer
705-658-4643 ext. 223
Email: curt.wesley@moosecree.com
FIRE EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER
IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE EMERGENCY, WATER RESCUE, MOTOR
VEHICLE COLLISION
PLEASE CALL THE FIRE EMERGENCY NUMBER
705-658-4510