Ontario families will be safer thanks to a new Mobile Emergency Operations Centre, the newest and most advanced of its kind in Ontario, Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter said today at the launch of Emergency Preparedness Week 2007. "The McGuinty government is committed to building safer, stronger, healthier communities and our investments in emergency preparedness are an important part of that commitment," Kwinter said. "The new mobile operations centre will help Emergency Management Ontario respond quicker and better in times of crisis." The operations centre, called Mobile1, is a state-of-the-art field coordination vehicle equipped with the latest communications and incident management systems. The province invested $965,000 in the vehicle. "Mobile 1 will help Emergency Management Ontario officials better coordinate the provincial response to major emergencies and provide more effective support to communities when required to do so," said Commissioner of Community Safety Jay C. Hope. "It will help local officials ensure the safety of their citizens."  Take a picture tour of Mobile1 Mobile1 Power Point Presentation  7.5 Meg

Mobile1 Key Features

• 12.5 metres long, 3.8 metres high, just over three metres wide, and weighs nearly 20 metric tonnes

• Six communications workstations, equipped with an array of radio systems, as well as full telephone system with extensions, fax, Internet, television, e-mail/Internet, and satellite communications

• A conference room for up to eight people, wired for conference calls and real-time audio-visual briefings. Additionally, the exterior of the vehicle is configured to facilitate briefing

• The potential to broadcast access to a wireless local area network, allowing other incident vehicles and facilities to use common network-based incident management software when installed

• An on-board weather station supports a wide variety of functions, including consequence modelling related to natural, industrial, or terrorist incidents

• An on-board generator provides self-power. Power could also be provided externally to buildings, camps, and other vehicles

• Antenna and digital satellite television receivers

• On-board Amateur Radio Station

• High-resolution cameras for close-up digital recording at distances of more than a kilometre

• 500-watt light tower, sidelights and telescopic scene lighting

• Global Positioning System receiver and ability to develop site-specific mapping.

Mobile1 Roles

• Provincial Government Response Coordination - Mobile 1 is fully equipped to act as a coordination centre for major Ontario government emergency responses. By ensuring greater coordination of ministry responses, the province is able to offer municipalities and Firs Nations "one-window" support in times of crisis.

• Municipal/First Nations Support - Mobile 1 can provide communities with a platform for the coordination of local response efforts. Emergency Management Ontario provides a vehicle crew, while local officials retain full command of an incident. In addition, Mobile 1 can supply power and full communications support to a municipal or ministry Emergency Operations Centre or Emergency Information Centre in the event that conventional communications are not available.

• Communications Interoperability - Mobile 1 can connect to a number of different communications networks (e.g., VHF, UHF, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, telephone, satellite). Up to seven separate links can be used at the same time.

• Base of Operations - The vehicle is capable of supporting municipal and provincial incident management specialists deployed on field operations.

• Emergency Information Centre Support - Mobile 1's computer network, communication systems and power supply can support a provincial, ministry or community Emergency Information Centre for timely and accurate provision of emergency information to the media and public.

• Incident Monitoring - Mobile 1's two telescoping masts extend to a height of over 13 metres with high-resolution cameras to allow for close-up digital recording at distances of over a kilometre. Hazardous situations can be monitored from a safe distance and information can be relayed to senior officials via the vehicle's satellite and cellular Internet connections.

Emergency Management Ontario

Emergency Management Ontario is a branch of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Through effective partnerships, Emergency Management Ontario leads the coordination, development and implementation of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery strategies to maximize the safety and security of Ontarians.