New Emergency Social Services Framework provides clarity 

Members of Alberta Municipalities passed a resolution calling on the provincial government to better define the level of service a local authority must provide to evacuees in 2024. Earlier this year, the Government of Alberta finalized an Emergency Social Services Framework that better defines what services must be provided to evacuees.

Under the Emergency Management Act and Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation, municipalities are responsible for ensuring evacuees have access to:

• Shelter. Safe, secure accommodations must be provided during displacement. Examples include congregate lodging (e.g., cots in community halls) and group lodging (e.g., hotels, motels, campgrounds).
• Food & water. Sufficient, safe, and nutritious meals and potable water must be provided. Delivery methods may include catering, restaurant vouchers, or grocery cards.
• Personal Services. Emergency first aid and access to essential health care must be provided. This includes personal hygiene items, essential clothing, support for individuals with disabilities or complex care needs. It also includes multicultural and linguistic services, mental health and psychosocial supports, and essential transportation (e.g., transportation to and from medical appointments or Emergency Social Services facilities).
• Companion animal services. Emergency care for pets and service animals, including food and shelter, must be provided.
• Registration & tracking. Systems like the MyAlberta Emergency Registration System (MAERS) and Registration and Reception Centre Program (RRCP) that help track evacuees and record their needs must be provided.
• Family Reunification. Support for reconnecting separated family members, while respecting privacy laws, must be provided.
• Emergency Social Services (ESS) facilities. Designated locations for delivering services (e.g., reception centres, clean air centres, warming/cooling centres) must be established and maintained.

Services that municipalities have offered to evacuees in the past, but are not mandatory under the framework, include re-entry planning and support, personal recovery planning, donations management, volunteer coordination and enhanced evacuee communication.

While the framework is descriptive, not prescriptive, it reinforces the importance of locally led, provincially supported ESS delivery. Municipalities are encouraged to integrate these service levels into their Community Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs) and maintain readiness through training, partnerships, and proactive planning.

For more information or support, contact your Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) Field Officer or ESS Officer, or visit the Government of Alberta's Emergency Preparedness web page.