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AEMA Summit 2011 Slave Lake Wildfire Response and Recovery

AEMA Summit 2011 Slave Lake Wildfire Response and Recovery. Michael Merritt Assistant Deputy Minister Local Government Services Alberta Municipal Affairs. Introduction. Topics Government Response ADM Task Force Regional Recovery Plan Municipal Affairs Response

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AEMA Summit 2011 Slave Lake Wildfire Response and Recovery

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  1. AEMA Summit 2011Slave Lake Wildfire Response and Recovery Michael Merritt Assistant Deputy Minister Local Government Services Alberta Municipal Affairs

  2. Introduction Topics • Government Response • ADM Task Force • Regional Recovery Plan • Municipal Affairs Response • Housing Response and Interim Housing Project • Next Steps in the Recovery Process

  3. 3

  4. Government Response

  5. Restore the Town and Municipal District Make them “whole” again. Ensure that the communities are not disadvantaged by the disaster and remain well-positioned for future growth Objectives 5

  6. Overall Provincial Response • Deputy Ministers’ Committee chaired by Brian Manning, former Deputy Minister of Executive Council • Recovery efforts coordinated in collaboration with the Town of Slave Lake, Municipal District of Lesser Slave River and Sawridge First Nation (Tri-Council) • Assistant Deputy Minister Task Force chaired by Tim Grant, seconded from Alberta Energy 6

  7. Deputy Minister Committee • Deputy Ministers’ Committee chaired by Brian Manning, • former Deputy Minister of Executive Council • Financial authority to address immediate / critical issues • Actions included: • EI Assistance Program (debit cards) provided to impacted residents (14,943) in the amount of $1,250 per adult, and $500 per child. • Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) Business Loan Program offered affected small businesses the ability to apply for loans commencing June 1, with the supplementary benefit of no interest and no payments for 24 months. • Regional Recovery Coordination Group approved and funded • Donations Management assisted

  8. Tri-Council Town of Slave Lake, Municipal district of Lesser Slave River, and Sawridge First Nation • Recovery efforts coordinated in collaboration with the Town of Slave Lake, Municipal District of Lesser Slave River and Sawridge First Nation (Tri-Council) • Tri-Council developed a vision for the recovery which included 70 potential projects. • The Tri-Council vision was used to guide the development of the Regional Recovery Plan which addressed the key needs of the impacted communities through existing government programs and 17 new projects.

  9. Assistant Deputy Minister Task Force

  10. ADM Recovery Task Force • Role: to provide provincial oversight and coordination of recovery efforts. • Key Themes • ADM’s Top Priority • Develop a Recovery Plan • Coordinated Approach • Local Priorities - Needs • Actions vs. Words

  11. ADM Recovery Task Force (continued) • Assistant Deputy Minister Task Force formed to coordinate government response. • Chaired by Tim Grant of Alberta Energy • Member Ministries: • Municipal Affairs (Housing) • Infrastructure • Finance • Health and Wellness • Treasury Board and Enterprise • Human Services • International, IntergovernmentalAboriginal Relations • Executive Council • Public Affairs Bureau • Others as required 11

  12. Regional Recovery Plan

  13. Development of the Regional Recovery Plan – Capacity Building • A key goal of the Regional Recovery Plan was to transition the lead role in recovery efforts to the Tri-Council and the newly-formed Regional Recovery Coordination Group (RRCG) as appropriate. (approved by DM Task Force) • The RRCG would be based in Slave Lake and work with the Tri-Council and the provincial government. • It would be responsible for facilitating recovery efforts and advising Tri-Council on long term recovery plan implementation.

  14. Regional Recovery Coordination Group • The overall objective of the RRCG is to put in place frameworks and establish the supports necessary to focus on long-term re-building so that impacted CAOs can return their focus to the day-to-day operations of their respective municipalities. • The Director of the RRCG reports to Municipal Affairs, but follows the direction of the Tri-Council. • The RRCG also acts as liaison between provincial government and the Tri-Council.

  15. Recovery Governance Transition

  16. Regional Recovery Plan • The Regional Recovery Plan Projects are organized under four categories: • People • Reconstruction • Economy • Environment

  17. People • Focused on the overall physical, mental and social well-being of the residents of the Lesser Slave Lake region to ensure that the right resources are in place to support the community’s needs. • $0.59 million Replacement of Firefighting Resources • $2 million Comprehensive Assessment of Health Services • $0.05 million Commemorative Monument • $1.5 million Municipal Support • $3.6 million Evacuation Centre • $2 million Intersection Upgrade (Hwy 88 - Hwy 2)

  18. Reconstruction • Focused on addressing damaged infrastructure included residential, commercial and public buildings as well as utilities. • $0.30 million Performance Monitoring • $1.5 million Widewater Firehall • $0.25 million Off-Site Levies and Permitting Re-Imbursement • $20 million FireSmart Initiatives • $1.0 million Ball Diamond

  19. Economy • Focused on supporting the return of economic health in the region, and helping to enhance the economy and offset economic disadvantages experienced as a direct result of the disaster. • $6 million Tax Relief and Revenue Stabilization • $0.9 million Economic Development Support • $20 million Increased Water Supply • $2.5 million Mitsue Fire Station Construction • $1.0 million Regional Green Transit

  20. Environment • Focused on mitigating the significant impacts on the environment as a result of forest and urban destruction and from response activities such as firebreaks or the use of fire suppressants/retardants. • $1.0 million Berm

  21. Municipal Affairs Response

  22. Municipal Affairs – Local Government Services Response • Municipal Affairs focused on supporting the municipality • Staff Capacity • Financial Impact • Initial Activities • Department staff on-site to assist with municipal operations immediately following the wildfire • Internal Secretariat to coordinate activities • Facilitated deferral of municipal loans and near term financial obligations • Announced property tax relief for homes or property destroyed by the wildfire • Assisted in soliciting municipal organizations (LGAA and ARMAA) for municipal volunteers 22

  23. Municipal Affairs – Local Government Services Response (continued) • Department contracted with key experts to assist municipalities with community stabilization activities including facilitation, records management, financial transactions, and advisory support. • Contracts to Support Municipal Operations • Betty Osmond (former Town CAO) • Beacon for Change (facilitation and strategic advice) • Meyers Norris Penny (municipal record reconstruction) • ADR International (Stress/crisis management workshops for municipal staff) 23

  24. Municipal Affairs - Housing Delivery and Operations Response (formerly Housing and Urban Affairs) • Housing and Reconstruction Information for Residents • Housing Fair: Saturday, June 11 • Focus: Consumer protection information. • Participants: Town of Slave Lake; Municipal District of Lesser Slave Lake; Government of Alberta; insurance adjusters; safety codes; utility providers; development permit providers, etc. • Housing Construction Fair: Saturday, June 25 • Focus: Providing a range of options for homeowners that are faced with rebuilding their homes. • Participants: local and regional builders (stick and modular); insurance companies; other residential construction industry members. 24

  25. Housing Response

  26. Municipal Affairs - Housing Delivery and Operations Response (continued) Essential Workers Housing – identified by the community • Temporary accommodations provided for essential workers who were designated as vital to the recovery of the community. • Accommodations were made available while essential workers awaited placement in interim housing. • These workers included firefighters, police, healthcare workers, utilities workers (gas, electric, water), teachers, and some municipal and provincial government employees.

  27. Municipal Affairs - Housing Delivery and Operations Response (continued) Emergency Accommodation Program • Emergency housing provided for residents burned out of their homes. • Phase 1 covered rent, moving costs, deposits, utilities for displaced Albertans. • Phase 2 supported rent subsidy costs for families that have not been transitioned into Interim Housing according to program priorities. • Phase 3 supports rent costs for remaining families not yet in alternative accommodations.

  28. Next Steps in the Recovery Process Implement the Plan

  29. Transition of Recovery Coordination to Local Leaders • As the immediate response and recovery needs are met for the region, local leaders are increasingly important to the long term implementation of the Regional Recovery Plan. • The Tri-Council and the Regional Recovery Coordination Group will direct the implementation of the Plan according to local needs.

  30. Rebuilding – Setting the Stage • Clean up of fire debris started July 7 and continued to move through the Recovery Zones as the utilities were secured: • Zone 1 started July 12, completed August 15 • Zone 2 started July 7, completed August 15 • Zone 3 started July 12, completed August 15 • Zone 4 started July 27, completed September 30

  31. On the Bright Side… • Support for the people of the Lesser Slave Lake region from around the world has strengthened the recovery efforts ever since the fire.

  32. Signs of Recovery • It is the spirit of the people of Slave Lake that makes an interim house into a HOME.

  33. Signs of Recovery (continued) • Former Premier Stelmach visited the Lesser Slave Lake region multiple times during the response and recovery to reaffirm government support for residents.

  34. Signs of Recovery (continued) • Concert of Hope – July 1st • Performers included Dwight Yoakam, Stampeders, Nazareth, Ashley MacIsaac  

  35. Signs of Recovery (continued) • With assistance from the Roland Michener Secondary School art students, children from CJ Schurter school created a mural called “Hope is on Our Hands.”

  36. Slave Lake Recovery Financial Support • Treasury Board approved a total of $289 million to support response and recovery efforts in the Lesser Slave Region. • Key programs form the Government of Alberta’s response to this unprecedented disaster: • $125.3 million Disaster Recovery Program; • $56.7 million Community Stabilization Funding; • $42.8 million Interim Housing Project; • $64.2 million Lesser Slave Lake Regional Recovery Plan; and • funds already committed to Slave Lake through regular GoA business processes. • Implementation of the projects funded by the above is being led by Brandy Cox, Director of Slave Lake Recovery

  37. Questions?

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