Red River Métis Emergency Management Planning
@ Manitoba Métis Federation
Background
While the MMF is taking action against climate change, there are increasing numbers of environmental emergencies that arise due to climate change. Many risks cause threats to life and safety in areas where Red River Métis Citizens live, work and harvest. This includes wildfires, blizzards, floods, tornadoes, power outages and more, across the National Homeland and within urban centres, down to grassroots-level communities.
Goals
The MMF's goal is to create a Red River Métis Emergency Management Plan that not only meets an overarching goal as a National Government but also develops programming and safety information for Red River Métis Citizens in urban areas. The project will assist in facilitating a consistent plan and direction in an emergency. To prepare an Emergency Management Plan, the MMF is developing a strategy with a multi-phased approach (below) to ensuring that Red River Métis citizens are protected during an emergency.
Main activities
Phase one of the project will include in-depth hazard and risk assessments, developing a tailored emergency plan, and safety information for MMF staff and visitors. The second phase will involve supporting MMF Regions by creating roles and responsibilities to serve during emergencies, and tools to facilitate these roles. Phase three will include regional emergency plans and training. These will include Region-specific emergency plans as well as the development and delivery of workshops and training events for MMF staff and Red River Métis citizens. Phase four will consist of developing programming, materials, surveys, and 72-hour emergency kits to pass on knowledge and further enable citizens to combat climate change as well as the increasing number of emergency events within the National Homeland.
Expected outcomes
While this project is a multi-phased approach, all the steps will be cyclical, working together to create the Emergency Management Plan. The programming, materials and training will create a knowledge hub, not only to serve citizens but also MMF staff and Regions.