Rail, flood disasters prompt Saskatoon to stage large scale evacuation drill

SASKATOON – About 180 people were evacuated from four high-rise buildings in Saskatoon as part of a multi-agency drill to test the city’s emergency preparedness.

The people taking part in Exercise Domino were transported Monday morning to a reception centre in Warman, Sask.

Anthony Tataryn, the city’s emergency measures coordinator, says from moving a few hundred people they can extrapolate what it would take to move a larger population.

Tataryn says the rail disaster in Lac Megantic, Que., and June’s flooding in southern Alberta were sober reminders of the need to be ready.

He says eight agencies came together to practice their evacuation skills, including fire services, search and rescue, the Red Cross and even city transit.

Evacuation drills have been done in Saskatoon before but Exercise Domino is the first time that municipal, provincial and federal governments are involved.

“Police are really good at doing police stuff. Fire are really good at doing fire stuff,” explained Tataryn.

“In large-scale disasters we have to be able to work together and integrate our systems.”