CITY OF TORONTO EMERGENCY PLAN
Emergency Support
Function
Emergency Level Notifications
Office of Emergency Management
Version 6.0
July 2015
3
Table of Contents
1.0
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Purpose .............................................................................................................. 5
1.2 Scope ................................................................................................................. 5
2.0 Concept of Operations ........................................................................................ 6
2.1 General .............................................................................................................. 6
3.0 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................. 6
3.1 Primary / Lead Agency / Division ....................................................................... 6
3.1.1 Office of Emergency Management .............................................................. 6
3.2 Supporting Agency / Division ............................................................................. 6
3.2.1 Strategic Communications .............................................................................. 6
3.2.2 City Clerk's Office ........................................................................................ 6
APPENDIX 'A': Toronto Emergency Management Program Committee (TEMPC)
Members ...................................................................................................................... 7
APPENDIX 'B': TEMPC Control Group Members ........................................................ 8
APPENDIX 'C': Emergency Management Working Group (EMWG) ............................ 9
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Emergency Support Function
Emergency Level Notifications
Primary / Lead Agency / Division:
Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
Supporting Agencies / Divisions:
(ABCCD's)
City Clerk's Office
Strategic Communications
External Supporting Agencies:
N/A
1.0
Introduction
Emergency Support Functions are supporting documents to the City of Toronto
Emergency Plan (COTEP). While these are stand-alone documents not contained in
the Emergency Plan they provide the structure and framework for integrated support by
Lead and Supporting Agencies, Boards, Commissions, Corporations and Divisions
(ABCCD's) in the most frequently grouped operational functions responding to
emergencies.
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has responsibility for the development of
the Emergency Level Notifications Emergency Support Function (ESF). This
Emergency Support Function provides guidance on the Office of Emergency
Management, Strategic Communications and City Clerk's Office responsibilities in
notifying appropriate stakeholders during an incident, emergency and/or major
emergency.
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Emergency Support Function (ESF) is to describe the four level
notification system, give examples, explain operational implications of each level, define
the required support of the Office of Emergency Management and/or the Emergency
Operations Centre, outline notification requirements of Strategic Communications and
City Clerk's Office at each level, and the required notifications by the Office of
Emergency Management at each level.
1.2 Scope
The scope of this ESF is limited to the notification requirements for the Office of
Emergency Management, Strategic Communications and City Clerk's Office for an
incident, emergency and/or major emergency. This ESF does not describe how
Divisions will follow established internal notification procedures as it relates to normal
business (i.e. house fire, water main break, motor vehicle accident, road closures, etc.).
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2.0
Concept of Operations
2.1
General
This ESF will be implemented when activation of the Office of Emergency Management
and/or the Emergency Operations Centre is required to provide any one or a
combination of the following:
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Effective policy and strategic direction to the emergency;
Support of emergency operations at the site(s);
Consequence management;
Resource management;
Coordination of management linkages to the emergency site, Divisional
Operations Centre, external agencies and the Provincial Emergency Operations
Centre;
Information to the public and news media; and
Business continuity for the rest of the City.
Depending on the magnitude and duration of the above requirements appropriate
notifications of stakeholders are required by the Office of Emergency Management,
Strategic Communications and City Clerks.
Please note that the Emergency Operations Centre is ready 24/7.
2.2
Emergency Level Notifications
This ESF has established a four tier emergency level system to determine the
appropriate notifications (see Table 1).
The 4 levels are as follows:
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Level 0 – Normal
Level 1 – Incident
Level 2 – Emergency
Level 3 – Major Emergency
Table 1 describes the following:
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Levels
Operational Implications
Office of Emergency Management Support
City Division Notification
Office of Emergency Management Notification
Examples
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Table 1: Emergency Level Notifications
Level 0 - Normal
Operational Implications
Normal is described as 'business as usual' or 'normal operations' for
emergency services and/or Divisions.
Office of Emergency
Management Support
No support required but OEM 24/7 Stand-by Coordinator available to
support.
City Division Notification
Office of Emergency
Management Notification
Lead Division(s) will follow established notification and escalation
procedures to their chain of command.
No notifications required as Division(s) will follow established internal
notification and escalation procedures.
Examples
House fire, water main break, motor vehicle accident, road closures.
Level 1 - Incident
Operational Implications
Office of Emergency
Management Support
City Division Notification
Office of Emergency
Management Notification
Examples
Incident requires monitoring, coordination, collaboration and/or
communications for one or a combination of the following:

Support of emergency operations at the site(s);

Coordination of management linkages to the emergency site,
Divisional Operations Centre, and external agencies; and

Information to the public and news media
Support available through OEM 24/7 Stand-by Coordinator.
Lead Division(s) will follow established notification and escalation
procedures to their chain of command.
No notifications required as Division(s) will follow established internal
notification and escalation procedures.
If the OEM is activated to monitor it may require notification to members
of the Toronto Emergency Management Program Committee (Appendix
A), Toronto Emergency Management Program Committee – Control
Group (Appendix B), Emergency Management Working Group
(Appendix C), Strategic Communications, City Clerk's Office and other
key Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Divisions.
Localized power disruptions, severe weather watches and warnings,
localized flooding, Emergency Social Services coordinate and respond.
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Level 2 - Emergency
Operational Implications
Office of Emergency
Management Support
City Division Notification
Office of Emergency
Management
Notification
This level requires coordination, collaboration and/or communications
for one or a combination of the following:
 Effective policy and strategic direction to the emergency;
 Support of emergency operations at the site(s);
 Consequence management;
 Resource management;
 Coordination of management linkages to the emergency site,
Divisional Operations Centre, external agencies and the
Provincial Emergency Operations Centre;
 Information to the public and news media; and
 Business continuity for the rest of the City.
The Office of Emergency Management may;
 Facilitate access to City Divisions/External Agencies and/or;
 Facilitate integration of City Divisions/External Agencies into
the Incident Management Structure in the Emergency
Operations Centre and/or;
 Attend Site as a Liaison Officer.
Lead Divisions will follow established notification and escalation
procedures to their chain of command and the OEM.
Office of Emergency Management:
 Must Notify Deputy City Manager, Cluster 'B'
 Must Notify the City Clerk's Office
 May Notify TEMPC/EMWG Emergency Social Services
Working Group, and Other Key Divisions / Agencies (as
required)
 May Notify Strategic Communications
Strategic Communications Notifications
The Emergency Information and Media Relations Emergency Support
Function will be activated.
City Clerk's Office Notification
The City Clerk's Office will notify Councillors of the activation of the
EOC and the activation of the Councillor Coordination Emergency
Support Function. City Clerks will follow established protocols set out
in the Councillor Coordination Emergency Support Function.
Examples
High-rise(s) or large area evacuation, major road(s) washout/closures,
emergency social services reception centre, large power outage (2008 200 Wellesley St., 2013 – July 8 flooding).
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Level 3 – Major Emergency
Operational Implications
Office of Emergency
Management Support
City Division Notification
Office of Emergency
Management Notification
This level requires coordination, collaboration and/or communications
for ALL of the following purposes:
 Effective policy and strategic direction to the emergency;
 Support of emergency operations at the site(s);
 Consequence management;
 Resource management;
 Coordination of management linkages to the emergency site,
Divisional Operations Centre, external agencies and the
Provincial Emergency Operations Centre;
 Information to the public and news media; and
 Business continuity for the rest of the City.
Office of Emergency Management may;
 Facilitate access to City Divisions/External Agencies and/or;
 Facilitate integration of City Divisions/External Agencies into
the Incident Management Structure in the Emergency
Operations Centre and/or;
 Attend Site as a Liaison Officer.
Lead Divisions will follow established notification and escalation
procedures to their chain of command and the OEM.
Office of Emergency Management:
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Must Notify Deputy Manager, Cluster 'B'
Must Notify EMWG, TEMPC, Control Group, Emergency Social
Services Working Group, and Other Key Divisions / Agencies
Must Notify the City Clerk's Office
Must Notify Strategic Communications
Must Notify the Province of Ontario if a declared state of
emergency
Strategic Communications Notifications
The Emergency Information and Media Relations Emergency Support
Function will be activated.
City Clerk's Office Notification
The City Clerk's Office will notify Councillors of the activation of the
Emergency Operations Centre and the activation of the Councillor
Coordination Emergency Support Function. The Clerk's Office will
follow established protocols set out in the Councillor Coordination
Emergency Support Function.
Examples
Nuclear event, public health emergency, city wide power outage,
severe storm/weather (2013 Ice Storm).
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3.0
Roles and Responsibilities
3.1
Primary / Lead Agency / Division
3.1.1 Office of Emergency Management
The role of the OEM as it pertains to this Emergency Support Function is to
provide:
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3.2
Support and maintenance of The Emergency Plan and this ESF
Notification as per Notification Levels in Table 1
Activation and coordination of activities for the EOC
Supporting Agency / Division
3.2.1 Strategic Communications
The role of Strategic Communications as it pertains to this Emergency Support
Function is to provide:
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Support and maintenance of this ESF
Notification as per Notification Levels in Table 1
Activation of The Emergency Information and Media Relations Emergency
Support Function
3.2.2 City Clerk's Office
The role of The City Clerk's Office as it pertains to this Emergency Support
Function is to provide:
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Support and maintenance of this ESF
Notification as per Notification Levels in Table 1
Activation of The Councillor Coordination Emergency Support Function
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APPENDIX 'A': Toronto Emergency Management Program Committee
(TEMPC) Members
1. Mayor
2. Deputy Mayor
3. City Manager
4. The Deputy City Manager, Cluster 'A'
5. The Deputy City Manager, Cluster 'B'
6. The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer – Cluster 'C'
7. Chief of Police
8. Fire Chief and General Manager of Fire Services
9. Chief and General Manager of Toronto Paramedic Services
10. Medical Officer of Health
11. Director of Strategic Communications
12. Executive Director of Human Resources
13. Chief Executive Officer of Toronto Transit Commission
14. General Manager of Transportation Services
15. General Manager of Toronto Water
16. General Manager of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
17. City Solicitor
18. City Treasurer
19. Chief Corporate Officer
20. Chief Building Official and Executive Director of Toronto Building
21. General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation
22. General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services
23. Director of Facilities Operations
24. Chief Information Officer
25. Manager of Insurance and Risk Management
26. Director of Office of Emergency Management
27. City Clerk
28. Toronto Hydro
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APPENDIX 'B': TEMPC Control Group Members
1. Mayor
2. Deputy Mayor
3. City Manager
4. The Deputy City Manager, Cluster 'A'
5. The Deputy City Manager, Cluster 'B'
6. The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, Cluster 'C'
7. Chief of Police
8. Fire Chief and General Manager of Fire Services
9. Chief and General Manager of Toronto Paramedic Services
10. Medical Officer of Health
11. Director of Strategic Communications
12. Executive Director of Human Resources
13. Chief Executive Officer of Toronto Transit Commission
14. General Manager of Transportation Services
15. General Manager of Toronto Water
16. General Manager of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
17. Director of Office of Emergency Management
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APPENDIX 'C': Emergency Management Working Group (EMWG)
Depending on the emergency incident, staff from various City Divisions will form the
Emergency Management Working Group (EMWG) and will sit in the Operations Section
of the Emergency Operations Centre. This includes staff representatives from the
following City Agencies, Boards, Divisions and Commissions:
1. Office of Emergency Management (Chair)
2. Toronto Police Service
3. Toronto Fire Services
4. Toronto Paramedic Services
5. Toronto Public Health
6. Strategic Communications
7. Toronto Water
8. Transportation Services
9. Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
10. Toronto Building
11. Toronto Transit Commission
12. Purchasing and Materials Management
13. Facilities Management
14. Engineering and Construction Services
15. Solid Waste Management Services
16. Parks, Forestry and Recreation
17. Toronto Office of Partnerships
18. Finance and Administration
19. Human Resources
20. Information and Technology
21. City Clerk's Office
22. 311 Toronto
23. Toronto Hydro
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Revision History
Revision Name of Contributor
Number
1.0
Office of Emergency
Management
Summary Of Changes
Revision Date

Updated as required
February 2009
2.0
Wayne Banon (OEM)

Updated as required
August 19, 2011
3.0
Loretta Chandler &
Wayne Banon (OEM)

Converted existing ESF
to New Template
Updated as required
Revised with EMWG
input
As per Ombudsman
Report – Emergency
Levels Table
Level 2 – OEM Must
Notify DCM Cluster 'B')
Level 3 – OEM Must
Notify DCM 'B', EMWG,
TEMPC & Control Group
and Key Divisions
Revisions as per
changes to City's
Emergency Plan
December 28,
2012
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
4.0
Wayne Banon (OEM)
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
February 25, 2013
5.0
Wayne Banon (OEM)

6.0
Donna Clark (OEM)
James Kilgour (OEM)
Loretta Chandler (OEM)

Revisions as per
changes to City's
Emergency Plan and
additions of ESFs
May 1, 2015

Approved by EMWG
August 31, 2015

Posted to the OEM
Website
September 1,
2015
December 19,
2013
7.0
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