IceStorm 98 Study

Q. CONCLUDING REMARKS

The story of Ice Storm ’98 is one of people helping people. The success of the response is a testament to the strength of our communities and the compassion of Canadians.

Prior emergency planning and training proved invaluable. The “all-hazards” approach to emergency preparedness advocated by the provincial and federal governments, allowed emergency responders to deal effectively with an emergency of a type and scale not contemplated by emergency planners.

The increasing number of severe weather events and associated emergencies means disaster preparation is more important than ever before. Learning from the experience of others allows individuals and emergency response organizations alike to become better prepared and to improve response in future emergencies. That is why this report was produced. The lessons presented here, most of which are applicable to any large-scale emergency, represent the collected wisdom of several hundred emergency responders who spent days and weeks dealing with Canada's biggest emergency. May their experiences help guide your future planning.