September 16, 2015 – Emergency services providers and officials from the United States and Ontario, Canada are participating in a four-day Integrated Emergency Management Course with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Training Institute (EMI) to train in the event a cross-border emergency event takes place.

“This is a first-of-its kind coordinated effort for Minnesota and Ontario and we are extremely pleased with the level of commitment and interest from the various jurisdictions to work together to protect our people,” said Jim Wiinenen, Principle IEMC Planner, Chair – Pigeon River Steering Committee & Emergency Management Director – Cook County, MN.

Nearly 100 participants from five U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions including Tribal, Municipal, County, State, Provincial and Federal representatives from over 20 agencies in both countries are gathered in Grand Portage, MN to better coordinate response to an international catastrophe. Jurisdictions include communities from Duluth, MN up to Grand Portage Reservation and into Neebing, Thunder Bay, Shuniah, Rainy River, and Dryden, ON.

“Wherever there is a major incident, it is critical to have agreements and relationships in place among neighbouring jurisdictions,” said Mike Chesney, Director of National Preparedness, FEMA Region V. “This week-long training experience involving the whole community is the best example of how to prepare for the complex, multi-jurisdictional response to a disaster incident in this region. The relationships built during this event are fundamental to ensuring an effective response if/when a real-world event occurs. FEMA greatly appreciates the local efforts of all who have planned and participated in this event.”

Course instructors include experts from FEMA’s National Emergency Training Center Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsberg, Maryland, who are trained in all areas of emergency management. Instructors include:

        
  • Barry Breslin,  Course Manager – EMI, Maryland
    •     
  • Paul Ganem, Exercise Director – EMI, Maryland
    •     
  • Jim Groves, Adjunct EMI Faculty, North Carolina
    •     
  • David Popoff, Emergency Management Specialist, Texas
    •     
  • Dr. Holly Smith, Public Information Specialist, Florida
    •     
  • Patrick O’Brien, Integrated Response Solutions, Maryland
    •     
  • Richard D. Bracco, San Francisco Fire Department, California
    •     
  • James Fogerty, King County Public Health, Washington
    •     
  • Alberto J. Lenzini, Deputy Director of Oakland Public Works (Retired), California

Lessons learned from the IEMC will help guide future preparedness efforts by identifying capabilities that are strong and those that can be improved to work to work together to manage disasters.

“This week has been time well-spent to learn how we will support each other during an emergency without “tripping” over the international border,” said Joe Kelly, Director of Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

“We have unique assets on both sides of the Border that could be vital to saving lives in the event of an emergency,” said Dennis Brescacin, Community Emergency Management Coordinator. “Thunder Bay has the closest Urban Search and Rescue Team, Level 2 Hazmat Team and a Technical Rescue team. If a major event occurs, there may not be time to wait for teams to be deployed from their traditional areas and we need to have the answers to who does what when, and the processes for mutual aid figured out ahead of time to best protect our citizens and assist our neighbours.”

- 30 -

Contact:               Valerie Marasco, Public Information Officer – Pigeon River Steering Committee, 807-621-4151 or
                              vmarasco@thunderbay.ca