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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-02-18, Page 3Wednesday, February 18, 2004 Exeter Times–Advocate 3 Flood forecasting and emergency response meeting By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Approximately 20 people gathered in the Masonic Hall for a flood forecasting and emergency response meeting Feb. 12 hosted by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). Bob Norris, chairman of the ABCA board of direc- tors, welcomed everyone to the meeting and said its purpose was to stimulate emergency preparedness in case of extreme weath- er. Similar meetings have been held every year since the flooding which occurred in July 2000 in Exeter. ABCA Water and Planning Manager Alec Scott said emergency management is easy to forget about and it's important to always have a plan in place. Scott said the water management mandate on flooding focuses on pre- venting losses to life, prop- erty and disruption in case of an emergency. Flood damage preven- tion is addressed through planning, advisories and warnings, projects, regu- lations and plans for input and review. Scott said forecasting is important so everybody can be kept away from areas where it will flood. Scott said responsibilities are shared by the province, conservation authorities and upper and lower tier municipalities. At the provincial level the Ministry of Natural Resources provides a provincial emergency plan, early advisories, planning and co-ordina- tion and provincial assis- tance. Municipalities must have an emergency plan and make the first response for the welfare of resi- dents. Conservation authorities also have an emergency plan, provide a monitoring system, receive early advi- sories and interpret the information they have. Scott said the Ministry of Natural Resources dele- gated flood forecasting to the conservation authori- ties approximately 20 years ago, so they are now responsible for maintain- ing a monitoring system and sharing information with the municipalities. Scott said they focus on local watershed conditions and look at the informa- tion in a local context. For instance if four inch- es of rain is forecast dur- ing a dry summer, there will be little or no impact while the same amount of rain during a wet spring could result in a tremen- dous flow. Scott said the ABCA monitors wind levels, pre- cipitation, wind speed, wind direction and snow depth and accumulation. In the event of a poten- tial situation, the ABCA will issue a flood bulletin to the municipalities. This may be a monitoring and safety message, an adviso- ry or a warning. Scott said it is also important to keep the lines of communication open between the ABCA board members and staff, the Ministry of Natural Resources, media, OPP and local police, munici- palities and local business owners and residents. Scott said snow pack Exeter Lions present Yuk Yuk's comedy show EXETER — The fourth annual Yuk Yuk's comedy show is coming to Exeter Feb. 26. The Exeter Lions will once again be hosting the fundraiser at the South Huron Rec Centre. Proceeds from the event are used to help several wor- thy local causes. The Exeter Lions club supports minor sports, such as ringette, baseball, soccer and figure skating. It also con- tributes to Community Living of South Huron and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of South Huron and has made a $10,000 donation to the new medical clinic. The Lions also puts on the annual fish derby and the Santa Claus parade and has supported the MacNaughton-Morrison Trail and Children of Chernobyl. Tickets are available from any Lion's member, at Thomas H. Fine Menswear or at Stedmans in Exeter. They are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Blue Water Rest Home ANNUAL MEETING to be held Wed., March 3, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. at Zurich Mennonite Church Chairman: Brian McHugh Secretary: Laurene Corriveau was 25 per cent above normal shortly before the meeting. Ice was mea- sured at a depth of eight to 12 inches and the greatest danger is a rapid thaw followed by heavy rains. He also said it is important for drains to be uncovered and catch basins open since ponding can occur during a quick melt. Heavy rainfall study Joan Klaassen, head of the climate and high impact weather unit of the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), spoke to the group about the sum- mer 2000 heavy rainfall study conducted by MSC. The study was initiated and funded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Conservation Ontario. Klaassen said there were several high impact storm rainfall events in southern and central Ontario in the spring and summer of 2000, the most famous being the one in Walkerton May 12. She said the conditions came in the wake of drought conditions in the 1990s and flood damages across the area are esti- mated in the millions. From April to September 2000 several one -day rainfall records were shat- tered, although the month of August had below nor- mal rainfall. In the Exeter area records were set in June and July with a par- ticular event on July 9 causing flooding. Recommendations from the study included main- taining a monitoring part- nership with the conserva- tion authorities, increasing population densities, regu- lar updates of climactic design information, improving the reliability of radar, considering antecedent rain conditions and having a meteorologi- cal representative from MSC sit on the Provincial Flood Forecasting and Warning Committee (PFFWC) and to continue to increase awareness and support for the recom- mendations within MSC and other agencies. Klaassen said MSC will work with PFFWC to implement the recommen- dations. NewWeb site Klaassen also spoke about the Ontario Emergency Management Act which was officially announced last April. Klaassen said in response to the act a new Ontario Atmospheric Hazards Web site has been designed to record historical weather infor- mation and data. 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