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Organization’s disaster mitigation/prevention, has turned to the
development of products and services for the early warning of
natural high impact events that reduce disaster risk.
Early in January 2007, in the aftermath of the Stanley Park
blow-down which destroyed thousands of historic trees in one
of Canada’s most visited national parks, federal, provincial and
territorial ministers responsible for emergency management
announced a framework for emergency management empha-
sizing a federal role in disaster mitigation, early warning and
disaster financial assistance arrangements. Although disaster
mitigation and hazard assessment services are related, they are
not one and the same. Disaster mitigation is readily recognized
as focused on the impacts rather than the quantification of the
hazard itself. This is what differentiates disaster mitigation from
the more traditional meteorological services. In fact, new legis-
lation and the new national emergency management
framework for Canada result in a good prognosis for harness-
ing the capability of the Meteorological Service of Canada in
terms of developing weather and climate adaptation measures
benefiting all Canadians, their livelihoods and their natural
environment. Although there are many other avenues to pursue
which are enabled by impending legislation and policies, the
Meteorological Service of Canada with its many partners has
provided, and continues to provide citizens with some of the
tools they require to reduce disaster risk. Some examples of
such provisional measures are detailed below.
Air quality
– In collaboration with provincial governments
and regional authorities, the Meteorological Service of Canada
has established a strong air quality forecast system. Air quality
in Canada is based on the Air Quality Index and is monitored
on a daily basis. Air quality forecasts are issued in partnership
with provinces, while air quality advisories are issued once air
pollution levels exceed national standards in partnership with
provinces and local regional health authorities. Advice is issued
in these advisories intended to protect the health of Canadians
and the environment.
Northern Rangers
– The Meteorological Service of Canada
collaborates with the Northern Rangers, a group of 4,000 volun-
teers and reservists within the Canadian military, primarily
consisting of members of the Inuit and Native communities.
Their main role is to maintain a Canadian presence in the North
while performing other tasks such as training the Canadian
military, collecting data and conducting surveillance using tradi-
tional geographical, navigational and survival skills. Recent
trends such as the melting of sea ice in the Arctic, have ampli-
fied the role and importance of Canada’s Northern Rangers.
Road Weather Information System
– One of the Meteorological
Service of Canada’s most successful programmes is the Road
Weather Information System (RWIS). In partnership with
Transport Canada, the provinces and the private sector, the
RWIS is a complex road condition monitoring system.
Automatic sensors report road forecasts, current conditions and
data to decision makers, resulting in safer driving conditions
and a reduced usage of unnecessary road treatment chemicals.
There have now been negotiations with the United States and
Mexico to implement a continental system for the entire road
and highway network across North America.
Online information
– The Meteorological Service of Canada
has developed an online database and Web site detailing back-
ground information and maps regarding natural hazards in the
province of Ontario. A collection of background information
and maps assists local decision makers and individuals in prepa-
ration for disasters and the evaluation of associated risks. This
Web site has been a useful tool for local municipalities in emer-
gency preparedness planning, as required by provincial law.
Warning preparedness meteorologists
–Warning preparedness
meteorologists act as a useful resource for the media and emer-
gency management personnel. In the event of a natural disaster
or emergency, they act as coordinators and advisors. In numer-
ous events of severe weather hazards, this programme has
provided scientific advice for the media. The meteorologists
are also responsible for training and educating the Canadian
public on severe weather related issues, through a series of
workshops and forums with emergency management person-
nel and decision makers.
Canadian Ice Service
– The Canadian Ice Service provides
products and services to the offshore gas and oil industry by
providing iceberg and sea ice information for exploration and
production, both onsite and in transit. This includes the moni-
toring and tracking of icebergs and the forecasting of marine
weather conditions, mostly on the Atlantic Coast.
Hot weather information
– The Meteorological Service of
Canada is responsible for issuing weather forecasts and related
hot weather information. Actual heat warnings and advisories
are to be issued at the discretion of local health authorities. At
the request of local and provincial authorities, Environment
Canada will assist in the event of extreme heat conditions. The
Meteorological Service of Canada has developed a national
measurement system called the Humidex, based on high
temperature and humidity to assist local authorities with heat
wave related decision making. The city of Toronto was selected
as one of the UN and World Health Organization’s trial cities
to pilot the heat wave warning system, and plans are underway
to explore and develop a national heat wave warning system.
Weatheradio
– The Meteorological Service of Canada’s
Weatheradio network broadcasts from 185 locations across the
country, reaching over 92 per cent of Canadians. These are
passive systems enabling citizens to be alerted to high impact
events even when not actively seeking information. Now, 92
per cent of Canadians can access a Weatheradio signal, and
recent technological advances have made it possible for listen-
ers to programme radio receivers to deliver only certain types
of warnings for their specific locations. ‘Weatheradio is evolv-
ing into an “all-hazards” alert system. Warnings for non-weather
related natural disasters, technological accidents, AMBER alerts
and terrorist attacks will eventually be added to the broadcasts’.
A member of the Canadian Forces discusses training exercises with
two Northern Rangers
Photo: Sgt Frank Hudec, Department of
National Defence Canada, 2004