TORONTO - The Ontario government today recognized Ontario Public Service employees who helped people and communities in the southern United States recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year.   

More than 800 Ontario public servants applied to help with hurricane recovery. The 64 selected were trained and then deployed to the southern U.S. for three-week periods. Work done by OPS employees involved assisting the American Red Cross with evacuee management and emergency operations centres, logistic management, food, clothing, registration and inquiry.   

Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter and Ontario Commissioner of Emergency Management Julian Fantino presented certificates to the employees.   

"I am very proud of the Ontario public servants who answered the call to assist people in need after Hurricane Katrina," Phillips said. "They gave not only their considerable skills and expertise but also their kindness, humanity and dedication to help their fellow human beings. I can't thank them enough."   

"The Ontario government takes emergency preparedness seriously," Kwinter said. "That's why every ministry has completed and filed a business continuity plan that includes response to designated emergencies. The work being done now will make Ontario an even safer place to live and work."    

"It's too late to be exchanging business cards in the middle of an emergency," Fantino said. "We have to make linkages, set up networks and work cooperatively across all levels of government, with agencies such as the Red Cross and with the private sector. The deployment of OPS staff to the U.S. is an excellent example of diverse groups working together for the benefit of everyone."

Also on hand to recognize the employees was John Mulvihill, Deputy Secretary General of the Canadian Red Cross.
   
"The Red Cross relies on dedicated and skilled volunteers to respond in times of disaster," said Mulvihill. "The effort by the Province of Ontario to mobilize employees in support of Red Cross hurricane relief efforts was proactive and an excellent example of the benefit of a partnership approach to disaster management. The Red Cross looks forward to a continued relationship with Emergency Management Ontario and the province to further preparedness and response capability in Ontario."

Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes in American history. It caused catastrophic damage along the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama with more than 80 per cent of the City of New Orleans experiencing severe flood damage. Katrina is estimated to have killed more than 1,600 people and caused $75 billion US in damage.

Disponible en français

www.mpss.jus.gov.on.ca
www.mgs.gov.on.ca
www.ontario.ca/emo

Fact Sheet : Province of Ontario response to Hurricane Katrina

Backgrounder: Emergency Management Ontario

Contacts:

Paul de Zara
Minister’s Office
416-327-3072

Jason Wesley
Ministry of Government Services
416-327-2805