Emergency Preparedness

Home Residents Emergency Preparedness

The Municipality of Huron Shores works with emergency services and partners to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Being prepared at home is an important part of keeping our community safe.

The Municipality of Huron Shores is committed to helping residents prepare for emergencies and access reliable information when it matters most.

If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.

For non-emergency municipal inquiries, contact the Municipal Office at 705-843-2033.

What Should I Do in an Emergency?

Be Prepared

Make a plan
Build an emergency kit
Know your risks

Stay Informed

Follow municipal updates and alerts
Monitor local weather and news

Act Quickly

Be ready to evacuate or shelter-in-place
Follow instructions from emergency services

Emergency Preparedness Guide

The Municipality of Huron Shores has released its updated Emergency Preparedness Guide to help residents prepare for emergencies and unexpected events. The guide provides practical information on emergency kits, household preparedness, evacuation planning, emergency alerts, and important local resources. Residents are encouraged to review the guide with their households and take steps to ensure they are prepared year-round.

The Emergency Preparedness Guide is available for download

Emergency Updates

During an active emergency, road closure, or other hazard, official updates will be shared through:

These communication channels are used to share timely updates during emergencies or emerging situations. In urgent circumstances where there is a potential risk to public safety, the Municipality may also issue direct notifications (such as phone, email, or text alerts) to ensure residents receive critical information as quickly as possible.

Your Role in an Emergency

Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility between residents, municipalities, and provincial and federal agencies.

Residents are encouraged to:

Stay informed through official municipal communications
Have an emergency plan in place
Identify alternative accommodations if access to their property may be limited
Stay connected with neighbours, family, or support networks

Learn More

Ontario Flood Strategy

Emergency Management Ontario

The Vulnerable Person Registry

The Vulnerable Person Registry (VPR) is designed to assist emergency responders by providing timely access to important information about individuals who may require additional assistance during an emergency situation. When a registered person is identified as being at risk, relevant information may be shared with appropriate emergency response agencies to support a coordinated and effective response. The registry helps first responders better understand individual needs and improve assistance during emergencies.

Vulnerable Persons Registry

VPR Information Brochure

VPR Information Poster

Are You Flood Ready?

Flooding can occur quickly and may affect roads, properties, and essential services. Taking steps now can help reduce risks and improve safety during an emergency.

The Municipality’s Emergency Preparedness Guide includes information on how to prepare for flooding, as well as other emergency situations such as severe weather, power outages, and evacuations.

Residents are encouraged to:

Know their flood risk
Prepare an emergency plan and emergency kit
Monitor weather conditions and local updates
Be prepared to act if conditions change

Additonal Resources: Red Cross Flood Guide

Flood Monitoring in Huron Shores

The Municipality participates in ongoing flood monitoring and preparedness efforts to help identify and respond to changing conditions during the spring freshet and other high-water events.

Each year, the Flood Monitoring Committee meets with municipal staff, dam operators, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and other partner agencies and stakeholders to review:

Current watershed and weather conditions
Projected water levels and flows
Dam operations and monitoring information
Preparedness and response measures

Residents are encouraged to stay informed by monitoring municipal advisories and subscribing to website updates. Meeting recordings are posted on the municipal meeting calendar and subscribe to the website for updates.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Municipality of Huron Shores maintains an Emergency Response Plan, including a Flood Emergency Plan – Annex H, in accordance with the Emergency Management Ontario. The program supports preparedness, response, and recovery planning to protect the health and safety of the community.

Background: Why New Mapping Was Needed

In the 1980s and 1990s, communities across Ontario were mapped under the federal Flood Damage Reduction Program (FDRP), which designated 1:100-year flood risk zones. These maps have guided planning and development decisions for decades—but in Huron Shores, they were limited in both geographic coverage and technical detail, and had not been updated since their creation.

To address this gap, the Municipality of Huron Shores launched a flood risk assessment initiative in 2021, supported through Stream 1 of the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP). Engineering firm Hatch Ltd. was retained to provide a comprehensive, modern assessment of flood risk in priority areas.

The project used advanced tools and data collection, including:

Bathymetry and LiDAR analysis
Hydrology and hydraulic modeling
Quantitative risk assessment
Community risk and vulnerability mapping

Public Information Sessions were held on February 17, 2022 and September 8, 2022 to share preliminary results and gather input.

Council Decision – October 2022

On October 26, 2022, Council adopted the 2022 Inland Flood Line Interpretation Report as the new “engineered flood lines” for the purposes of Section 4.11 of Zoning By-law #18-18, replacing outdated mapping in the Official Plan.

Supporting documents included:

Draft mapping and technical data were released in February 2024, including:

Floodplain Mapping Technical Report

Listen in to the Municipality’s annual Mississagi River Monitoring Committee meeting. Usually held the first Thursday in April each year. These meetings provide updates on the state of the river flows and updates on current water levels. For more information or to listen in, email the Municipal Office for information at email@huronshores.ca.

Historical Data

1979: Major spring flooding hit Iron Bridge, forcing the evacuation of over a dozen homes in a lower section of the village when the Mississagi River overflowed its banks. Water reached depths of 5 feet outside homes on Mississauga Crescent.