EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN 1

Emergency Response Plan

Lower Madawaska Canoe Trip

April 28, 2018 – May 1, 2018

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Contents
Definitions ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Scope ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Crisis Identification ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Roles & Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................ 4
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment .................................................................................................. 3
Water Release Information........................................................................................................................... 5
Contact Information...................................................................................................................................... 6
Maps ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Overviews.................................................................................................................................................. 7
Daily Cards ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Evacuation Routes Lower Madawaska ....................................................................................................... 17
Latchford Bridge (Put In) – Aumond Bay ................................................................................................ 17
Aumond Bay – Buck Bay ......................................................................................................................... 18
Buck Bay – Slate Falls .............................................................................................................................. 20
Slate Falls – Griffith (Take Out) ............................................................................................................... 21
References .................................................................................................................................................. 22
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Definitions
Risk Management: “A systems-based approach to sustainably managing uncertainty within an operating
environment.” (Jackson & Heshka, 2011)

Safety: “The state of being safe; freedom from injury or loss.” (Jackson & Heshka, 2011)

Risk: “The potential for loss or gain.” (Jackson & Heshka, 2011)

Risk Assessment: A systematic process of evaluating the potential risks that may be involved in a projected
activity or undertaking. (Jackson & Heshka, 2011)

Emergency Situation: Situation that poses immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment.

Purpose
An emergency response plan specifies procedures for handling sudden of unexpected situations (CCOHS,
2018). This document acts as, “a predetermined set of actions and situation-specific protocols to be
followed in the case of an unexpected event or crisis” (Jackson & Heshka, 2011). The purpose of the ODAN
Canoe Expedition emergency response plan is to provide the ODAN students, Algonquin College
administration, Outdoor Adventure Naturalism program coordinators, Wilderness Tours guide staff,
Wilderness Tours operations managers, owner, and supplementary staff the resources necessary to enact
a safe and well-planned response crisis.

Scope
This document defines key terms relating to emergency protocol, including the term “Crisis”. It outlines
the roles and responsibilities of the ODAN Canoe Expedition members and supplementary staff during
and after an emergency. This document also includes Risk Assessments, Route Plans and Evacuation Plans
for the Lower Madawaska Canoe Trip. Emergency Contact Numbers are included below. Included in the
Appendices are Incident Report Forms and Hazard Identification Forms. This document is meant to be a
comprehensive and practical resource for managing emergencies during the ODAN Canoe Expedition, for
Wilderness Tours guides & Algonquin College Administrative staff.

Crisis Identification
Algonquin College Outdoor Adventure Naturalism defines a crisis as, “any occurrence which can
threaten the normal operations and conduct of the organization and damage the organization's overall
reputation by negatively affecting stakeholders' perceptions.” (Jackson & Heshka, 2011)

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Click here to download the HIRA for the canoe expedition

Click here to download the summary of the HIRA

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Roles & Responsibilities

The following chart outlines the roles and responsibilities following and during an emergency situation
for the Outdoor Adventure Naturalism Canoe Expedition (see “Emergency situation” in Definitions).

Staff Member Position in Business Roles During/After Emergency (Jackson & Heshka, 2011)
Ian Pineau ODAN Program ▪ Executes Emergency Response Plan
Coordinator ▪ Oversees and coordinates staff, clients and information
▪ Notifies College and Wilderness Tours staff
▪ Follows up with field staff and resolves loose ends
▪ Manages information; receives field reports, logistic
plans and informs others when appropriate
▪ Accesses participant information if necessary
▪ Manages vehicle, hospital and transport arrangements
▪ Responsible for evaluating, reporting and making
suggestions for future improvements and prevention
mechanisms
• Also, responsible for staff training and instruction
Cameron Dube ODA Program Coordinator ▪ Prepares reports for media and release
▪ Consistent contact person for media if necessary
▪ Informs family, company stakeholders, and necessary
people of the situation and acts as a contact for them
▪ Oversees the normal business operation during time of
crisis and manages necessary resources
▪ Plans for long term impact on business
Wilderness Tours River and Interpretive ▪ Responsible for conducting checks of equipment
Guiding Staff Guides (on-site) involved in the situation
▪ Responsible for preparing field report if necessary
▪ Enacts in-field rescue or evacuation if necessary
▪ Responsible for providing necessary medical care in
field if necessary
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Water Release Information

The water levels on the Madawaska River are always fluctuating, especially during the spring thaw.
Fortunately, the Ontario Power Generation website provides data for the changes in water levels
throughout the year and how much water their hydro dams let through. Below is a table highlighting the
levels two weeks prior to the trip so we can see the trend. Please check the following link for updated
information before the trip to find out about predicted water levels and flow rates.

*Important to note the trends over the actual number value, as it will indicate whether levels are
increasing or decreasing, and at what rate.

https://www.opg.com/generating-power/hydro/ottawa-st-lawrence/river-systems/Pages/madawaska-
river.aspx

(Ontario Power Generation, 2018)

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Contact Information
Please find any required contacts below. They are in alphabetical order (listed as the service when
appliciable: E.x. ‘Lawyer’ instead of Ms. Powell) for your convenience, with internal company contacts
listed first, followed by any external or contracted contacts.

Ambulance Service Hospital

Service to Palmer Rapids St. Francis Memorial Hospital – Barry’s Bay
Tel. (613) 756-3090 Tel. (613) 756-3044

Emergency Services Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.)

Access to fire, police, or ambulance Service to Ottawa Valley
Dial 911 Tel. 1-800-267-8919

Fire Services Poison Information

Service from Combermere Tel. (1-800) 267-1373
Tel. (613)756-0131
Search and Rescue
Marine Air Search and Rescue
Tel. (1-800) 267-7270
To Print and Laminate

Contact Name Primary Phone

Number
Emergency Services 911
Ambulance (613) 756-3090
Search and Rescue (1-800) 267-7270
Fire Services (613)756-0131
Poison Information (1-800) 267-1373
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Maps
Overviews
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Daily Cards
On the following pages. These highlight information about each rapid, access and egress points, portages,
campsites, and kilometer markers.
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Evacuation Routes Lower Madawaska

Latchford Bridge (Put In) – Aumond Bay

Evacuation Routes:

Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps, Latchford Bridge to Griffith].

Latchford Bridge (Put In) - 45°17'30.2"N
77°27'50.4"W

Aumond Bay -45°16'01.8"N 77°22'45.5"W

Homestead Road (Ends) - 45°16'06.7"N 77°23'56.1"W

Trail along the shore towards Aumond Bay

Fastest Evacuation Route:

Homestead Road meets with Palmer Road at 45°17'48.2"N 77°26'06.8"W. Homestead road is
easily accessible for emergency vehicles and would be an ideal place to get to. Homestead Road is located
on the river left side and follows the edge of the river. When eddying out, walk east and you will find the
road/ trail. If you reach the trail, head north. The ideal Emergency route for the river right side you can
find below.
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Aumond Bay – Buck Bay

Aumond
Bay

Cedar Grove Rd

Highland Creek Rd

Buck Bay
Keller Rd

Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps, Latchford Bridge to Griffith].

Aumonds Bay to Buck Bay is a 9.27km journey. If a problem occurs during the first 1.24km the
fastest way to evacuate a patient would be to eddy out on the river right. At 45°15'37.6"N 77°23'22.1"W,
there is a field patch where Paramedics can easily access the patient. This is 28.43m from the shoreline.
The paddling group will be crossing the Cedar Grove Road to get to the field. If the guide feels like the
patient is stable enough to transport to a closer location for the paramedics to get to, there is another
field at the coordinates 45°15'56.7"N 77°23'17.4"W which is a 676.78m walk from the take-out (around
45°15'37.9"N 77°23'21.7"W). (Google Maps, 2018)

If a problem occurs within the first 4.21km of the trip, on the river right, the guides can eddy out
and find the start of a 1.32km trail at 45°14'23.3"N 77°22'28.7"W. The guides will be eddying out around
the coordinates 45°14'26.1"N 77°22'26.7"W. The trail leads to a 496.64m stretch of paved road that meets
with Keller Road. The point where the trail ends, and the paved road begins, would be an easily accessible
area for the paramedics to be able to get to in order for them to start treatment at soon as possible. If the
guide feels the incident is too risky for transport, there is open field at 45°14'23.8"N 77°22'28.5"W that’s
53.49m from the take-out location. If the guide feels as though the client is stable enough to transport to
where the paved road and Keller Road meet, the coordinates to meet the EMS would be 45°13'49.7"N
77°22'38.1"W. (Google Maps, 2018)

If a problem were to occur just before the 4.96km mark, the guides can eddy out on the river left
side around 45°14'16.7"N 77°21'57.1"W. There will be a 320.35m bush crash to where a path begins at
45°14'26.1"N 77°21'51.1"W. Head North on the trail (dirt road) for 1.98km to Hyland Creek Road
(45°15'08.6"N 77°21'47.4"W). (Hyland Creek Road would be the most desirable location for the EMS, but
patients would also be accessible at the start of the trail.) (Google Maps, 2018)
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If a problem occurs between the 4.96km mark and the last 4.31km of the trip the emergency route
to take would be at the take-out spot, 45°13'48.9"N 77°18'55.9"W. Once at the take-out spot there will
be a 260.94m bush crash (possible trail) ending at a small field (45°13'56.9"N 77°18'51.4"W) which leads
to a dirt road that connect with Hyland Creek Road. This is an accessible position for the EMS to get to. If
the guide however feels it necessary to continue down the dirt road it would be a 697.36m walk until
getting to the intersection (45.237712, -77.316161). (Google Maps, 2018)

Access Points:

1) Within the first 1.24km:

Field across the Cedar Grove Road, 24.83m from the shoreline - 45°15'37.6"N 77°23'22.1"W

Field along Cedar Grove Road, 676.78m from take-out - 45°15'56.7"N 77°23'17.4"W

2) For the next 2.97km:

Field 53.49m from take-out - 45°14'23.8"N 77°22'28.5"W

The start of a paved road/drive way at the end of the 1.32km trail - 45.233345, -77.372886

Keller Road - 45°13'49.7"N 77°22'38.1"W

3) For the next 75m:

Start of trail after 320.35m bush crash - 45°14'26.1"N 77°21'51.1"W

Hyland Creek Road - 45°15'08.6"N 77°21'47.4"W

4) For the last 4.31km:

Small field at the end of a 260.94 bush crash (possible trail) - 45°13'56.9"N 77°18'51.4"W

Hyland Creek Road - 45.237712, -77.316161

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Buck Bay – Slate Falls

Driving Directions & Map:

Directions to Palmer Rapids:

[Google Maps, Palmer Rapids Ontario Canada].

Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps, Latchford Bridge to Griffith].

Hyland Creek Road (All information found above)

1st option for Slate Falls Road (6.8km Dirt Road heading south) - 45°13'51.3"N 77°17'15.5"W

2nd option for Slate Fall Road - 45°14'04.7"N 77°16'02.1"W

Buck Bay-

Slate Falls- 45°14'07.9"N 77°16'25.1"W

If you follow option #1 for slate falls road. After heading sough for 6.8km, the road turns into pavement.
The EMS would be able to go down the dirt roads no problem in order to get the patient. There is field
space at 45°13'52.1"N 77°17'14.4"W, this may serve as a good area to try and locate the patient to for
the EMS pick up. This field is 280m from a possible eddy out location at 45°14'01.2"N 77°17'17.1"W on
the river right, just before slate falls.
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Slate Falls – Griffith (Take Out)

Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps, Latchford Bridge to Griffith].

Hyland Creek Road

Dirt trail- Start from water 45°14'20.6"N 77°16'00.8"W, 1.19km, meets Hyland Creek Road at
45°14'51.7"N 77°16'21.4"W

Dirt Trail- Start from water 45°14'13.4"N 77°15'09.1"W, 2.13km, meets Hyland Creek Road at
45°15'16.3"N 77°15'41.2"W

Slate Falls Dirt Road (Information above)

Harrison Trail – 820m joins with Hyland Creek Road at 45°15'21.9"N 77°12'51.1"W

Dirt Road – 1.87 km, joins with Hyland Creek Road at 45°15'37.3"N 77°13'36.7"W

Lalonde Lane – 890m, joins wit Finns Road at 45°14'59.4"N 77°12'50.2"W

Finns Road – 1.87km, Joins with Highway 41 at 45°14'37.6"N 77°12'03.2"W

Highway 41

Slate Falls

Griffith (Take out)

For 2.7 km, starting at 45°14'43.7"N 77°13'40.7"W (Just before Wadsworth Rapids) to 45.256947,
-77.208453. There are houses and buildings surrounding either side of the river. These buildings could
offer services if an emergency occurs. To the river left of this section, there is a dirt road that, if you follow
north, will connect with Hyland Creek Road. There is Harrison Trail which also leads to Hyland Creek Road.
Both roads are accessible to EMS. To the river right, Lalonde Lane (heading west) will bring you to Finns
Road. Finns Road meets with Hwy 41. All these roads are easily accessible to the EMS.
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References
Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps, Latchford Bridge to Griffith]. Retrieved April 21, 2018, from

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.2295864,-77.2452996,636m/data=!3m1!1e3

Ontario Power Generation. 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018, from

https://www.opg.com/generating-power/hydro/ottawa-st-lawrence/river-

systems/Pages/madawaska-river.aspx