Victoria, P.E.I., ramps up emergency preparedness as part of new 5-year plan

The Rural Municipality of Victoria is ramping up its efforts to prepare for emergencies linked to climate change as part of a new five-year strategic plan.

Victoria's council recently approved its 2025-2030 plan, which includes a focus on improving emergency preparedness and addressing environmental issues in the picturesque seaside community on P.E.I.'s South Shore.

Yves Dallaire, the municipality's chief administrative officer, said the community is facing increased threats from extreme weather and other climate-related events.

"We have the winds, hurricanes, especially in the fall. We also have fire hazards that can happen, especially… with older buildings," Dallaire told CBC News.

"We have also reservoirs, tanks of all kinds in the village, so we have to monitor all that in case of an emergency."

Key initiatives

Victoria's emergency preparedness efforts will focus on three main initiatives over the next five years:

• Upgrading the community's emergency reception centre.
• Conducting a climate risk analysis.
• Training local volunteers each year to respond to emergencies.

While the plan covers a five-year span, Dallaire said much of the work is expected to be completed within the first year.

The reception centre has been approved by the province and will serve as a daytime shelter for residents during emergencies. The municipality's staff are working to upgrade the facility, which Dallaire said is scheduled to be completed late this year or early in 2026. 

The climate risk analysis is also underway, with consultations involving the provincial government, community members and the local fire department, Dallaire said.

"I'm confident that this risk analysis would be completed this year."

He said the community will also have a emergency response co-ordinator, who will play a central role in the municipality's emergency preparedness strategy.

The co-ordinator is responsible for the overall emergency plan and will participate in the risk analysis to understand the specific threats facing Victoria.

"The major point for our co-ordinator is to co-ordinate the team that will be responding to these measures. And you have to be able to co-ordinate many, many people to do that," Dallaire said, adding that the role is a volunteer position.

He said over the past six months, the municipality has made a lot of progress, including developing a new emergency measures plan that has been approved by the P.E.I. government.

Victoria has also installed three backup generators to ensure water and sewer services can keep running during a power outage.

One generator is at the community's pumphouse, there's another at the wastewater treatment plant and a third at the lighthouse. All three were installed last year.