Ontario funds emergency preparedness in Northumberland
Photo submitted by MPP David Piccini.
Several Northumberland County municipalities are getting provincial funding to help prepare for and respond to emergency situations. Approximately $150,000 is being allocated by Queen’s Park for several initiatives.
The Township of Cramahe will receive $32,250.20 in funding to contract a specialized training company to deliver comprehensive training and exercise deliverables to address winter weather. The training will enhance the capabilities of staff, first responders, and key stakeholders to respond effectively to a wide range of emergencies, ensuring coordinated, timely, and efficient actions during critical incidents. This project will enhance the township’s capacity to effectively respond to all emergencies by strengthening skills and preparedness.
The Municipality of Brighton will use $49,391.42 in funding to strengthen emergency communications and enhance response capabilities during emergency events, including winter weather, ice storms, and wildland fires. The initiative will support upgrades to Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) communications, the purchase of two-way radio systems to ensure reliable coordination among responders, the integration of drone technology to improve situational awareness, and enhancements to wildland fire fighting capacity. These investments will improve operational effectiveness during emergency events, protect public safety and support timely and informed decision making.
“These investments in emergency response initiatives, equipment upgrades, and training are essential to protecting and strengthening our rural communities,” explains David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South. “By enhancing emergency response capabilities, we are prepared to face the unique challenge that faces our communities and ensure we remain safe and resilient.”
The Town of Cobourg will use their $50,000 grant to enhance the Cobourg Emergency Operations Centre’s communication capabilities to support response during winter weather emergencies. Funding will upgrade equipment, support both virtual and in person operations, and provide training and outreach to strengthen coordination during snowstorms, ice storms, flooding, and high wind events. The upgrades will ensure faster activation, smoother coordination among partners, and more effective emergency response.
Hamilton Township was successful in securing $16,000 for their project to equip the Township with two mobile emergency trailers designed to support rapid, consistent road closures and traffic control during major incidents. The project addresses severe weather events, highway shutdowns, vehicle accidents, power outages, and other emergencies that require immediate detours to protect responders and keep the public safe. Funding will support the purchase of the trailers, ensuring staff can deploy road closure equipment quickly from a centralized unit.
“We’re grateful to the Province of Ontario for supporting Hamilton Township through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant. This $16,000 investment will help us purchase and outfit a mobile emergency ‘Road Closed’ trailer so our staff can deploy road closure and traffic control equipment quickly and consistently during severe weather, road closures, and other incidents. With increasing emergencies and more frequent Highway 401 disruptions affecting our area, this project strengthens public safety, supports emergency responders, and improves our ability to keep routes clear for residents and emergency vehicles,” said Hamilton Township Mayor Scott Jibb.
