Emergency Preparedness & Community Safety

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.

Emergency Updates

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

Residents are encouraged to subscribe for updates.


Community and Safety Services

The Municipality works in partnership with other agencies to support community safety. Depending on the nature of your concern, the following services may be able to assist:

Ontario Provincial Police
For criminal matters, traffic offences, or immediate public safety concerns.
Non-emergency: 1-888-310-1122
Emergency: 911

HydroOne

For power outages or to report active outages.

Fire Department
For fire safety, burn restrictions during fire bans, and emergency response.

If you are unsure who to contact, please call the Municipal Office, 705-843-2033 and staff will assist in directing your inquiry.

Learn more about how to prepare your family or workplace.

Links:

How to Prepare for an Emergency – Brochure

Emergency Management Ontario – Guidelines in developing a Emergency Plan


The Vulnerable Person Registry

The goal of the VPR is to provide police with quick access to critical information about a registered person so the officer can assist in an emergency situation. When a Vulnerable Person is thought to be at risk, his or her personal information will be shared with relevant organizations, enabling them to quickly respond and provide effective assistance to the registrant.

Vulnerable Persons Registry – Check Eligibility & Register

VPR Information Brochure

VPR Information Poster


Flood Risk Assessment in Huron Shores

Are you #FloodReady? You might think flooding won’t affect you—especially if you don’t live near water—but floods can happen anywhere, at any time, to anyone.
Learn more: Canada’s Flood Risk Guide.

Understanding Flood Risk in Huron Shores

Certain areas within Huron Shores are subject to flood risk due to watershed and shoreline conditions.

The Municipality has completed flood risk mapping and assessment studies to better understand these risks and support responsible planning and emergency response.

If you believe your property may be located within a flood-prone area, please review the mapping resources below or contact the Municipal Office for assistance.

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 include:

  1. Flood Risk Assessment Report by Hatch Ltd
  2. Inland Flood Line Interpretation by Municipal Planner for the Municipality of Huron Shores, Peter Tonazzo.
  3. Motion 8.1.1., Resolution 22-24-02, Flood Risk Interpretation Report

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

  1. Flood Risk Assessment Report by Hatch Ltd
  2. Inland Flood Line Interpretation by Municipal Planner for the Municipality of Huron Shores, Peter Tonazzo.
  3. Motion 8.1.1., Resolution 22-24-02, Flood Risk Interpretation Report

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.


2013: Huron Shores Declares a State of Emergency, further information available here.



EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

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

Join the Mailing List

Subscribe to the Huron Shores mailing list. Receive periodic updates and announcements.