Bylaws currently before both Township and City councils will ensure that in the event of a major emergency the two jurisdictions will not only assist each other but also be equipped to co-ordinate disaster response with emergency agencies beyond their boundaries.

Last week, Township council gave first, second and third reading to a new Emergency Bylaw which is similar to one given third reading by City council on June 15.

A report to council from Langley Township Fire Chief Doug Wade says that the bylaws will ensure the municipalities will work together during and after all major emergencies in a co-ordinated response.

Both Langleys have been involved in the rewriting of the bylaws, to ensure clarity of wording and support.

The bylaws ensure that appropriate staff have the authority to support relief efforts and safeguard all citizens during and after emergencies or disasters.

A new section of these bylaws spells out how the two municipalities will assist each other.

“We will end up with staff working within the other municipalities’ boundaries, working collaboratively for common goals and citizen safety,” wrote Wade.

For example, if there is a major emergency, such as an earthquake, an administrative officer might make decisions supporting activities that happen in both City and Township.

Staffing resources in such an event would need to be shared as the two municipalities worked through short-term response and long-term recovery, while maintaining government.

The bylaw authorizes either municipality, during a disaster or emergency response, to permit its employees to deal with any problem in any part of the Langleys, and to pay the wages for its employees working for or in either area. It also allows either municipality to expend funds required, on the others behalf, to deal with the emergency.

The Township’s Murrayville Fire Hall and Langley City Fire Hall, at 5785 203 St., and any location in Langley identified by the Director of the Emergency Operations Centre, will be considered as Emergency Operation Centres.

And in a time of disaster, key employees will act as directors of emergency planning, and activate an emergency plan. These include the municipal administrators and fire chiefs of each municipality or the (joint) emergency planning co-ordinator.

The first administrator or chief or emergency co-ordinator) from either of the Langleys to arrive at the Emergency Operation Centre will assume the role of EOC director.

And subject to availability, the administrators will rotate into the role of EOC director during the emergency. Expenditure of funds, staff wages, liability, communications, are all covered in the two municipal bylaws.