Oxford County

There are eight municipalities within the County of Oxford, with each municipality having the responsibility to make provision for the extraordinary arrangements and measures that may have to be taken to safeguard property and the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Municipality when faced with a local emergency.

In the event of a larger incident, the head of council may decide to declare an emergency and assemble local officials at the municipal Emergency Operations Centre. This approach ensures a coordinated and effective strategic response.

Oxford County's Emergency Response Plan is designed to:

• protect and preserve life and property for the residents and visitors of Oxford County;
• assist the Municipality in an emergency;
• minimize the effects of the emergency on the County of Oxford; and
• restore essential services.

Citizen inquiry centres 

During a local emergency, municipalities will establish a citizen inquiry centre through 211 Southwest to provide information and instructions to the public. This will be in addition to information released through traditional and social media. 

211 Southwest is a telephone and website service that provides information to the public about community and social services in Ontario. During an emergency, 211 will play a vital role in supporting municipalities as a public information channel – providing information to the public about the emergency that does not require police, fire or ambulance, such as the location of emergency shelters, where to get basic supplies and how to donate goods. This helps to alleviate the non-emergency calls that go to 911 and other municipal phone lines. 

211 will provide translation services for those who do not speak English.

211 records all offers of assistance to aid in emergency response and recovery activities and forward this information to the appropriate municipal personnel.

Emergency information will also be posted on the 211 website.