"The caller to 911 sounds distraught, several young people are missing from an overnight outing, they are likely in the water. The weather has been cool and wet, and time is critical ……
"Royal Canadian Mounted Police and National Park Wardens are dispatched to Robinson’s Island to investigate; as the potential seriousness of the situation grows, more resources are requested, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre is contacted, and P.E.I.’s search and rescue network swings into action."
This will be the scenario facing both volunteer and professional members of the search and rescue community of Prince Edward Island on the morning of Saturday, June 14, 2008, as they participate in “Exercise Unified Command.” This multi-agency exercise is being led by Parks Canada in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Coast Guard, Prince Edward Island Office of Public Safety, and the National Search and Rescue Secretariat.
Exercise Unified Command will provide a valuable opportunity for emergency responders on Prince Edward Island to practice operating in a realistic, multi-jurisdictional incident. Responders will include ground search and rescue volunteers, fire fighters, National park wardens, RCMP officers, Coast Guard personnel, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Island EMS, the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association, the PEI Regiment, and the Red Cross. A command post, incident bases, and staging areas will be established; several boats and aircraft will be involved in the operation.
In addition to the responders participating in the exercise, approximately 40 senior representatives of government departments and civilian organizations with search and rescue responsibilities from across Canada will be on site. They have been invited to observe the overall operations of an incident being managed under the “Incident Command System,” a tool used widely across North America to manage emergency response, disaster management and event planning.
The exercise will take place between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 14. Activities will take place on and adjacent to Robinson’s Island, in Prince Edward Island National Park.