To review existing legislation and make
recommendations for necessary changes to ensure that
there is adequate authority to provide effective
emergency planning and response.

To review existing municipal, provincial, and federal
dangerous gcods legislation and recommend methods to
standardize this legislation at the municipal and
regional level.

To review the Hoyles Niblock report on emergency
communications and make recommendations for the
proposed G.V.R.D. Emergency Communications Network.

To make recommendations and reach agreement on a
common form of identification for those persons who
are called upon to take an active part in the
response to an emergency. This would include such
things as [.D. cards, arm bands, colored vests, etc.

Planning should take place for some intermunicipal
joint exercises which would show up problem areas and
refine command and control procedures.

I should point out that the Regional Emergency
Planning Committee is not a G.V.R.D. function but comes under
the Director of the Provincial Emergency Programme. The
Purpose of this Committee is to pave the way for smocth
cooperation-between municipalities and quick response to maiur
emergencies which could otherwise turn into disasters.
Unfortunately, the average municipality is very unprepared for
an emergency. Therefore anything that this Committee can do to
improve the preparedness is a laudable achievement.

One of the areas where some improvement in
Preparedness could be easily achieved is in the area of mutual
aid between Fire Departments. It was pointed out that although
Mutual Aid Agreements do exist, very few Fire Departments have
actually cooperated in arranging for their municipal neighbours
to familiarize themselves with the local high-risk areas. For
example, in Port Coquitlam the C.P.R. Yards are a major source
of concern and therefore it would seem logical that Coquitlam
and Port Moody Fire Departments be invited to familiarize
themselves with the Yards, the routes in and out, ete.
Similarly, our Fire Department should be prepared toa
Familiarize themselves with high-hazard areas in the
neighbouring municipalities. Although the possibility of
requiring this mutual aid may be remote, it is certain that
when disaster strikes the saving of af minutes by
pre-planning will be greatly appreciated.

F.E. Peters., P. Eng.,
City Engineer

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