The County of Stettler Public Works facility was converted into a mock emergency operations centre on June 18 as part of a large-scale emergency preparedness exercise.
Officials from the County and Town of Stettler, the Stettler Regional Fire Department, & local summer villages joined forces with representatives from 20 surrounding municipalities to simulate a coordinated response to a major disaster scenario.
The exercise centered around a fictional failure of the Dickson Dam in Red Deer County, triggering a 24-metre surge of floodwater down the Battle River.
The scenario resulted in widespread flooding in downtown Red Deer and inundation of the lower floors of the Red Deer Regional Hospital, compounding pressure on regional health-care services.
A mock evacuation centre was established at the Stettler Community Hall, where officials navigated real-world complexities, including coordinating support for animals, and directing residents to mental health & financial aid services.
The simulated floodwaters also impacted critical infrastructure, including the destruction of multiple bridges along the Battle River, which hampered search and rescue efforts.
The intake pipe at the local water treatment plant was also damaged as part of the scenario, prompting boil water advisories and raising concerns about possible hydrocarbon contamination downstream from the Nevis Gas Plant.
A media scrum and full debrief was held at the end of the exercise to evaluate the response & identify improvements.
Officials say the goal is to conduct similar full-scale exercises every four years to maintain regional readiness for emergencies.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
