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Create and maintain an emergency plan

Last updated on June 18, 2025

This page supports communities who are creating or updating their emergency management plans. An all-hazard emergency management plan describes how people, property, and the environment will be protected in an emergency. It provides an outline of actions that are taken when an emergency occurs.

On this page

General planning tools and guides

Emergency management plans must be based on a local authority’s risk assessments, the results of conversations with Indigenous governing bodies and neighbouring local authorities.

First Nations Guide to Emergency Management Self-Resiliency

This guide is an introduction to emergency management, hazard-specific terminology, fact sheets and contact information. It is intended for use by Emergency Program Coordinators or those that oversee and coordinate emergency planning efforts at the community level.

The project was undertaken by Indigenous youth interns who collected input and feedback from communities, partnership tables and the provincial government. This is intended to be used alongside the Emergency Management Planning Guide. 

Emergency plan guide and templates

The planning guide provides an adaptable, step-by-step resource for developing an emergency management plan. It addresses hazards, and assigns roles and responsibilities for emergency planning and operations.

Templates allow communities of any size, to adapt the planning process to suit unique emergency management needs and capacities.

Assessment tools

These tools assess your current capacity, structures, and identify hazards and risks to help reduce the potential consequences of an emergency.

Specific guides and resources

This information helps communities plan for specific situations.

Cold weather resources for planning and response

This page provides information for local governments and First Nations to support their cold weather planning and response. It provides an overview of provincially funded or supported programs available to help reduce the impacts of winter weather exposure on people at higher risk of experiencing cold related injuries, including people experiencing homelessness.

Drought and water scarcity planning

These resources help First Nations and local authorities plan for water scarcity and the placemat provides an at-a-glance, comprehensive overview of resources, actions, and more. The template is a Word document so that it can be edited for your purposes.

Major event planning

These guidelines are designed to provide relevant information and considerations to local authorities, communities, event organizers, emergency managers, provincial representatives, and any other groups involved in planning special events.

Questions?

While this process is designed to be self-guided, please contact a regional office if you have any questions about emergency planning.