What is Emergency Management?
Emergency Management is a community-wide effort to managing public safety during large-scale emergencies and disasters. This is done through an organized and structured effort to address:
- Mitigation - managing or removing the things that create a hazard.
- Preparedness - being ready for an emergency when it happens.
- Response - working to protect life, property, and the environment when an emergency occurs.
- Recovery - repairing the damage, learning from what happened, and making improvements.
Emergency Management involves everyone in Springfield - citizens, families, first responders, municipal government, community groups, the provincial government, and community organizations. Everyone has a role to play before, during, and after an emergency.
If a major emergency occurs in Springfield, it will involve a team effort to ensure the most critical needs are met. Our Emergency Management program is based on team approach. Our approach is to bring community partners together so we can make use of all available resources and make decisions that respond to the most important priorities.
For more information on Springfield's Emergency Management Program, please contact Ryan Banman - Municipal Emergency Coordinator.
Emergency Preparedness Week 2026
The Rural Municipality of Springfield marks the commencement of Emergency Preparedness Week, effective Sunday, May 3, 2026. This initiative serves as a critical period for the Municipality to emphasize that emergencies can occur without warning, and collective resilience begins with individual readiness.
The RM of Springfield encourages all residents to prioritize three primary objectives this week:
Risk Identification: Comprehend the specific hazards prevalent in our region.
Emergency Planning: Establish a formal household emergency protocol.
Kit Assembly: Procure and organize essential supplies for an emergency kit.
Hazard and Risk Assessment
A comprehensive Hazard and Risk Assessment is the foundational step in mitigating the impact of unforeseen events. Residents are advised to evaluate potential disruptions to daily life, ranging from short-term inconveniences to long-term crises. Within the RM of Springfield, localized risks include:
Severe Weather: Winter storms resulting in extended power outages, heating failures, and significant transport disruptions.
Hydrological Risks: Potential spring flooding in the vicinity of municipal creeks.
Environmental Hazards: Dry seasonal conditions and extreme summer heat, which increase the risk of wildland fires and heat-related medical emergencies.
Economic Contingencies: Preparing for socio-economic stressors such as inflation or sudden changes in household circumstances.
National Public Alerting System Test
Manitoba will participate in a scheduled test of the Alert Ready system on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 1:55 PM. This test will be conducted across all platforms, including television, radio, and compatible wireless devices.
Municipal Support and Resources
The RM of Springfield is committed to supporting residents in their preparedness efforts. Detailed guidance will be disseminated throughout the week. For immediate access to planning tools, please consult the federal resources provided by the Government of Canada Emergency Planning and Community Resilience
May 5, 2026 - Yesterday, for the start of Emergency Preparedness week, I gave a short list of possible events that might put you and your family in a tough situation. So now after you've identified your local hazards and risks, it's time to begin working on a plan for each event.
An effective emergency plan ensures safety by outlining clear procedures for risks, evacuations, and communication. Key components include identifying exits, establishing meeting points, assigning roles, and planning for medical needs. Review and test the plan regularly to ensure it works.
Key Components of an Emergency Plan
- Risk Assessment: Identify potential emergencies (e.g., severe weather, fire, medical emergencies) and the vulnerabilities of your specific site.
- Evacuation Procedures: Clearly mark exit routes and assembly areas on a map.
- Communication Strategy: Define how to alert family or friends and contact emergency services, including who is authorized to initiate an emergency response.
- Roles & Responsibilities: Designate family members for specific roles, such as each member packing their own bag ahead of time and getting it when needed, who gets the cat or dog and their food, who packs the car, etc.
- Accountability: Use a system to account for family or friends during an evacuation.
- Training & Drills: Train with the family on the plan and conduct drills to ensure familiarity.
Common Emergency Response Procedures
- Evacuation: Move to a safe, designated assembly area.
- Shelter-in-Place: Move to an interior room, away from windows, for emergencies like severe weather.
- Lockdown: Secure your home and restrict movement during threats like active violence.
- Medical Emergency: Ensure quick access for ambulances, first aid availability, and immediate communication with emergency services
Stay apprised to local events with MB READY https://mbready.manitoba.ca/ And there's an app for that. Search MB Ready in your app store. With the app you can keep informed of local events, keep watch zones, upload important documents and find resources to build a plan.
For a family activity, use templates from local authorities or specialized agencies, such as this one provided by the government of Manitoba and the government of Canada.
https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/emo/home-emergency-plan-workbook.pdf
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact Ryan Banman at mec@rmofspringfield.ca
Emergency Preparedness Checklist