Let's get our emergency plans in order

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How would Canadian emergency services hold up when confronted with a large scale disaster similar to New Orleans or New Jersey?

I find it difficult to blame any level of government for its reaction to large scale incidents. The complete destruction of a city is beyond the realm of comprehension. One thing is certain; dealing with a catastrophe requires strong leaders who take control and reassure the public.

Over the years many jurisdictions have put plans into place to ensure appropriate responses to disasters but few have practiced them because of budget constraints. I was fortunate enough many years ago to be asked to sit in on an emergency management response exercise. It taught me a great deal about the differences in how cops and politicians think about emergency response.