Latest news with #EmergencyManagementOperations
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Walton County's perimeter map aids residents in emergencies
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – From winter storms to hurricanes, emergencies in Walton County can change quickly. That's why officials are turning to technology to keep people informed and alert. 'One of the critical processes that we needed in Walton County was an interactive map for our residents and visitors to be able to see real-time data of road closures as well as resources in a disaster,' said Walton County Emergency Management Operations Coordinator Catie Feeney. It's called 'Perimeter Map,' an online tool for residents to enter their address and instantly see nearby hazards. The site updates in real time, showing things like road closures, storm zones, emergency shelter locations and evacuation routes. EPIC Van Tours begins for Walton County School District The map was first used during the winter weather earlier this year, but officials say it's especially useful now as hurricane season begins. 'It shows the entire road closure, it highlights it and you can zoom in and actually get some more information. If you click on the actual road closure, it can give a description so we can give additional information of maybe what the hazard is. In addition to road closures, we can also see where points of distribution are or pods where we will be handing out food and water tarps, as well as evacuation shelters,' Feeney continued. The tool created in California works on smartphones, tablets and computers, making it easy to check on the go. Walton County Public Works provide updates on several projects All users do is put in their location, and, from there, Perimeter Map will show what is happening around you. 'If you can operate a smartphone, if you can operate Facebook, it is very easy. This is not only going to help us in response, but it's also going to help us in recovery long term, where people can get that disaster assistance they deserve,' Feeney added. If you would like to access the map, click . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitobans asked to avoid non-essential travel to free up hotel rooms for wildfire evacuees
The Manitoba government is asking people to 'reconsider' non-essential travel to free up hotel rooms as wildfires continue to burn around the province. The province expects more hotel rooms might be needed for evacuees as the wildfire season continues. 'For that reason, we are urging Manitobans and Canadians to reconsider non-essential travel and event plans within Manitoba,' Lisa Naylor, the minister responsible for Emergency Management Operations, said at a news conference that provided an update on the wildfires situation Monday afternoon. 'We absolutely know how important tourism is to Manitoba, and we are very mindful of the many workers whose livelihood depends on a strong tourism sector.' About 21,000 registered evacuees have fled Manitoba wildfires. Some have been sent outside the province, to southern Ontario. Weekend rain did little to contain Manitoba's largest wildfire, near Flin Flon. The fire is more than 300,000 hectares in size and remains out of control, the province said. 'Flare-ups are expected to still happen later this week, when we see (warmer) weather. There has been a little bit of rain in Flin Flon, but it was really only two to four millimetres, which is not enough to control the fire,' said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the wildfire service. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Seventy-four charges have been laid and 28 warnings issued by the province this year for wildfire-related offences, such as area closures and fire bans. That does not include charges laid by the RCMP. fpcity@
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ottawa, Manitoba decided jointly to send evacuees to Niagara Falls
The Manitoba government confirmed Friday the decision to send some of the 18,000 wildfire evacuees to southern Ontario was made jointly with the federal government. 'Manitoba, in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada, worked quickly to ensure evacuees secured shelter and lodging in Ontario, much like Manitoba housed over 1,000 evacuees from Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (in northwestern Ontario) in May,' a spokesperson said in an email. The province said it requested assistance from Ottawa — via Public Safety Canada's Government Operations Centre — that emphasized the need for federal help to ensure a successful emergency response, including evacuation logistics. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Lisa Naylor, the minister responsible for Emergency Management Operations, said the Ontario hotel rooms were offered 'before we were able to mobilize as many rooms here in Manitoba.' 'Support measures remain in place for affected on-reserve and eligible First Nation communities, with resources available for both immediate and long-term recovery,' ISC said in an emailed statement. When a First Nation is evacuated, ISC's Emergency Management Assistance Program covers eligible expenses, including accommodation, transportation, food, clothing, security, emergency social supports, mental health services, and culturally relevant care. Until Friday, there was confusion about which entity decided to send evacuees to Ontario. 'Decisions are made based on what is available at the time. But as noted, the Red Cross is the lead organization on evacuations, so you'll need to reach out to them,' a statement from the province said. The Red Cross offered a similar reply. 'Please direct those questions to the province and Indigenous Services Canada,' a spokesperson said in an email. On Thursday, Lisa Naylor, the minister responsible for Emergency Management Operations, said the Ontario hotel rooms were offered 'before we were able to mobilize as many rooms here in Manitoba' early in the response. The evacuation orders were issued in a short time frame, forcing thousands to drive south or be airlifted to Winnipeg. Naylor said the province secured 1,500 hotel rooms in Ontario, and about 800 of them were occupied by evacuees from northern communities such as Flin Flon, Pukatawagan, Cross Lake and Split Lake. Hundreds of evacuees are staying in congregate settings in cities across the porvince, including a handful of sites in Winnipeg, which have less privacy and are not comfortable for a long period of time. On Friday, Premier Wab Kinew said approximately 100 hotel rooms become available daily in Manitoba. 'For those folks who are still in shelters, it's just a matter of matching them with rooms as they come online,' the premier said. 'We just have to do a balancing act as new medical patients come in from northern Manitoba, because some communities continue to evacuate due to smoke. We have to preserve some (hotel) rooms for people who have accessibility issues or really intense medical needs, while continuing to move people out of the congregate shelters. Kinew added the issue of a hotel room shortage 'has largely been addressed.' That doesn't satisfy Sheryl Matheson, deputy mayor of the northern town of Sherridon, 900 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. 'Our premier has to intervene and make hotel rooms accessible,' she told the Free Press Friday On the same day, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak posted on social media that about 150 evacuees from Pimicikamak, Tataskweyak, and Mathias Colomb Cree Nations were en route to Hamilton. 'We know that travelling from home to a city is a big step, but taking a trip to Hamilton for the evacuations is a huge leap,' the post said. 'Safe travels and remember to stay together while abroad.' Manitoba hasn't invoked the Emergency Measures Act, which would allow for hotel guests to be told to leave to make room for evacuees. The province declared a state of emergency due to the wildfires on May 28. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Naylor said Thursday evacuees had been put up in 1,732 hotel rooms in Manitoba, and 200 more were available. Another 200 would be open soon. The evacuation list grew on Friday: Snow Lake — roughly 700 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg — issued a mandatory evacuation order as a massive wildfire bore down on the town. 'You must leave because of the danger to your health and safety,' a post on the town's Facebook page said. The same fire, which has grown to more than 3,000 square kilometres has displaced 6,000 people from Flin Flon and the surrounding area. — with files from Chris Kitching and Gabrielle Piche Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hamilton Spectator
04-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Quartet on the land found safe and sound
Rankin Inlet Search and Rescue (SAR) successfully retrieved four people from out on the land this past week. Search co-ordinator Lorna Grace Tatty of Rankin Inlet said she received a message from Rankin Inlet Fire Chief Mark Wyatt at 9:16 p.m. on May 26, telling her that he had received a call from Apple about an S.O.S. call made from a cell phone. Tatty said Wyatt gave her the co-ordinates from where the message originated and informed her that it was a family of four involved: Pauline Semik; son Robert Semik; daughter Ashley Semik; and Honore Pissuk, Ashley's boyfriend. Pauline Semik was injured with what turned out to be a broken foot. Tatty said an incident number was assigned and she took over from there. 'I called our Emergency Management Operations in Iqaluit to give them all the information and tell them what was going on,' said Tatty. 'Then I sent out our first responders for SAR – that's my common-law, Peter Kadlak, and Darcy Kanayok. 'They left Rankin at 10:30 p.m. and only made it about 12 km out when Peter's sled got stuck in the slush. So, I messaged Solomon Ford to ask if he could help to pull out Peter's sled. 'Solomon (Ford) has a wide-track snowmobile and he was able to pull them out. Then I told the guys to just come back to Rankin and I'll get Emergency Management Operations to send over a helicopter. 'The helicopter couldn't leave until the next morning. It arrived in Rankin at 11:21 a.m. on Tuesday morning. It left to retrieve the four stranded people at 11:46 a.m. and arrived back with the stranded people at 12:31 p.m.' Tatty said she got one medic on board with the pilot to rescue the four people at Parallel Lake. She said as of Tuesday evening, the snowmobile and sleds were still stuck out on the lake. 'There was a SAR cabin close to where they were, so they were well-sheltered until they left there. 'They stayed so calm through everything. They were really thankful when they arrived in Rankin. I never slept for two days when all this was happening. 'They never told anyone they were going that far. When people go out, they should always let someone know where they're heading too. They should also always take extra rope and a dry bag for extra clothing, boots, a first aid kit and stuff like that.' Tatty said she was very happy with the way things played out. She said you can't ask for anything better than everyone being found safe and sound. 'Pauline (Semik) messaged me on Messenger to say thank you very much, so all's well that ends well. 'I'll be doing responder training in July, maybe, for eight people from Rankin. And, maybe, in September, we'll be having drone pilot training for the Kivalliq region. 'Peter Kadlak and I are certified drone pilots for Casara Search and Rescue and I'm also a certified navigator for Casara Search and Rescue for the Rankin region.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
