Local Authority Response Support

Federal and Provincial emergency management systems place primary responsibility for responding to emergencies at the municipal level, regardless of how large an emergency grows. The critical role of municipalities in responding to an emergency requires an on-going commitment to building experience, relationships and resources at the community level.

Local Authority Incient Reporting

Local Situation Report

Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO) requests a Local Situation Report from local authorities to ensure the coordination of provincial government resources in support of the pending or current situation. A Local Situation Report can be completed on-line or downloaded and submitted to EMO.

Local Authority Incident Support

State of Local Emergency

Section 11(1) and 11(2) of The Emergency Measures Act provides the local authority to declare a State of Local Emergency. Such declarations can be essential, even critical, in enabling local authorities to take actions necessary to provide maximum protection to people, property and the environment.

A state of local emergency (SoLE) may be declared by a local authority to acquire and exercise the powers set out in Section 11(1) and 11(2) of The Emergency Measures Act. Generally speaking, a SoLE is declared when an emergency is imminent or occurring.

Upon the declaration of, and during a SoLE, The Minister or the local authority may issue an order to any party to do everything necessary to prevent or limit loss of life and damage to property or the environment. A SoLE is valid for a period of 30 days, beginning on the day the declaration is made.

Local authorities have a responsibility to use the additional powers available when they have declared a SoLE correctly and prudently.

A SoLE may intrude on individual and property owner's rights, and therefore the actions undertaken under these exceptional circumstances must be: permitted under The Emergency Measures Act, reasonably necessary in the face of an emergency or disaster, and proportional to the loss or damage that the action seeks to prevent.

Details of a declaration

Written declarations must, at the very least, contain the following information:

  • Who is making the declaration?
  • What is the nature of the emergency?
  • What is the extent of the emergency? (In other words, what area is affected or likely to be affected?)
  • When (date and time) is the declaration made?

SoLE sample

Sample SoLE (PDF, 13 KB)

Powers during a SoLE

  • cause emergency plans to be implemented;
  • utilize any real or personal property considered necessary to prevent, combat or alleviate the effects of any emergency or disaster;
  • authorize or require any qualified person to render aid of such type as that person may be qualified to provide;
  • control, permit or prohibit travel to or from any area or on any road, street or highway;
  • cause the evacuation of persons and the removal of livestock and personal property and make arrangements for the adequate care and protection thereof;
  • control or prevent the movement of people and the removal of livestock from any designated area that may have a contaminating disease;
  • authorize the entry into any building, or upon any land without warrant;
  • cause the demolition or removal of any trees, structure or crops in order to prevent, combat or alleviate the effects of an emergency or a disaster;
  • authorize the procurement and distribution of essential resources and the provision of essential services;
    • regulate the distribution and availability of essential goods, services and resources;
  • provide for the restoration of essential facilities, the distribution of essential supplies and the maintenance and co-ordination of emergency medical, social and other essential services;
  • expend such sums as are necessary to pay expenses caused by the emergency or disaster.

Public notification

The Declaration of a SoLE must be communicated by the most expedient means to the public. Public notification of the SoLE should include the following:

  • The reason for declaring a SoLE
  • The area and/or extent of the emergency
  • An appeal to the public to obey all orders issued by the municipality or authorities during the emergency
  • An appeal to the public to stay clear of the emergency area
  • Assuring the public that all emergency response personnel will be diligent in the discharge of their duties.

Evacuation and Emergency Social Services Guidance

First 48 hours

Emergency Social Services (Provincial Support)

Provincial Emergency Social Services (ESS) has developed a set of guidelines. They provide recommendations on how municipalities should plan for the delivery of Emergency Social Services in the event of a disaster or emergency.

Evacuation Resources (Municipal)

Manitoba Emergency Social Services has provided the following template forms for communities to use for evacuation events.