City to conduct full-scale emergency exercise

The City of Medicine Hat’s Emergency Management Team will coordinate a full-scale emergency exercise on Wednesday, May 27 to test the City’s ability to respond to potential flooding along the South Saskatchewan River. Vehicle access into Strathcona Island Park will be unavailable during the exercise. 

This full-day exercise will involve multiple City departments and partner agencies working together in a coordinated response scenario. 

The City will test deployment of the Emergency Social Services Plan, including setup of a mock reception centre at the Big Marble Go Centre and evacuation procedures in the River Flats neighbourhood. Property Protection crews will install demountable barriers in Strathcona Island Park and construct a muscle wall system along Factory Street. Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services will conduct a swift water rescue training exercise. HALO will conduct a rooftop rescue exercise at the Heritage Pavillion in Strathcona Island Park. Additional activities include infrastructure response drills, facility protection measures, and coordinated efforts to secure affected areas and maintain public safety. 

Service Disruptions 

• Strathcona Island Park: The park will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. While trail access will remain open, the public is asked to keep a safe distance from training activities. 

• Factory Street: Factory Street will be temporarily closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Businesses in the area will remain accessible and will be notified directly. 

This is standard annual procedural training and is not related to any perceived or impending threat. 

Legislation requires municipalities to conduct at least one emergency exercise each year. These exercises provide valuable opportunities to prepare, learn, and continuously improve, so the City is ready to respond when needed.