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Crossfield and Rocky View County staged a full-scale emergency simulation on Thursday, which was built around a mock tornado that damaged property, displaced livestock, and triggered a mass evacuation.
The May 8 exercise, mandated under Alberta's Emergency Management Act, unfolded across multiple locations and tested how agencies coordinate during a simulated regional disaster.
Participating agencies included Rocky View County Fire Services, Crossfield Fire Department, RCMP, Fortis Alberta, Canada Task Force 2, Calgary Emergency Management Agency, Rocky View Enforcement Services, Red Cross, Rocky View Schools, the Animal Emergency Task Force, and the Salvation Army.
"This exercise represents a significant and necessary step in advancing regional emergency preparedness. It allows each municipality to mobilize cross-functional teams and test their Emergency Management Plans under a complex, realistic scenario," said Ken Hubbard, Chief of Fire Services for Rocky View County.
The first scenario began at 8:30 a.m. at 718 McCool St. in Crossfield, where crews responded to a simulated tornado strike that destroyed a mobile home park and impacted a nearby industrial facility.
"You may have seen emergency vehicles and crews in action today -- this was all part of the planned training," the Town of Crossfield stated in a public notice. Residents were reminded there was no danger to the public.
A post published on the Town of Crossfield's website ahead of the exercise encouraged residents to interact calmly with emergency crews: "You can say hi, wave, talk to us, and watch from a safe distance. Just don’t worry!"
From Crossfield, the exercise moved to the Fox Meadows acreage community near Highway 567 and Range Road 282A, where response teams simulated evacuations, livestock containment, damage assessments and utility disruptions.
At 11 a.m., a reception centre was activated at Balzac Hall. Students from W.G. Murdoch School were bussed in to play evacuees and took part in mock triage procedures led by Red Cross personnel and partner agencies.
"We’re also grateful for the participation of WG Murdoch School students, who will support the realism of the scenario by acting as evacuees at a reception centre. Our valued NGO partners -- the Canadian Red Cross, Animal Emergency Task Force, and the Salvation Army -- will join us in activating and managing that Reception Centre. This level of collaboration reflects the strength and depth of our region’s emergency response capabilities," Hubbard said.
Members of the public were invited to observe the reception centre between 9 a.m. and noon. Equipment displays at Rocky View County Hall were open for public viewing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The County Hall parking lot display included a Tiger Dam flood barrier, search and rescue command trailers, and a disaster relief unit trailer operated by Samaritan's Purse.
"The Town of Crossfield is happy to be part of this emergency exercise, because preparedness saves lives. Emergencies -- whether they're caused by weather, accidents, or other events -- can happen without warning. When they do, our community depends on first responders, Town staff, and partner agencies to act quickly, communicate clearly, and coordinate effectively," said Kinza Barney, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Crossfield.
"In a high-stress, fast-moving event like a tornado, we don’t want to be figuring things out as we go -- we want to be activating well-practiced systems and roles. That’s what keeps people safe and reduces confusion. These exercises are part of our responsibility to be proactive versus reactive -- and to make sure that, no matter what comes our way, we’re ready to respond quickly and effectively to protect our residents, infrastructure and way of life."
The exercise activated Rocky View's Emergency Coordination Centre and deployed regional All-Hazards Incident Management Teams. The scenario involved widespread damage from a simulated tornado, triggering secondary incidents such as flooding and power outages.
The Village of Beiseker was also named as a participating municipality, though no public simulation sites were listed there.
"Beiseker is a small village and while we are a strong united community in times of a catastrophe, we cannot always do this alone," said Mayor David Ledoyen. "Practicing or exercising an emergency with regional partners means conducting drills, simulations, or tabletop exercises to prepare for potential catastrophe. It involves collaborating with local governments, agencies, organizations, or communities to test response plans, improve coordination, and identify gaps in preparedness. These activities mimic real-world scenarios, like natural disasters, pandemics, or security threats to ensure effective communication, resource sharing, and decision-making under pressure."
"Today we have our teams working through an emergency that simulates a tornado. We are being given many curveballs to work through -- it’s exciting! Destruction of a tornado can lead to multiple responses," said Bill Wohl, Battalion Captain, Fire Services and Emergency Management for Rocky View County.
Didsbury EF4 tornado a reminder of real-world risks
While Thursday's event was a controlled simulation, Alberta experienced a rare high-intensity tornado less than two years ago.
On July 1, 2023, a tornado rated EF4 struck a rural area south of Didsbury, destroying three homes, rendering four uninhabitable, and damaging five more. Several dozen farm animals were killed. Witnesses captured video of the storm, which developed southwest of Didsbury and tracked eastward toward the north side of Carstairs.
According to the Northern Tornadoes Project, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada's Prairie and Arctic Storm Prediction Centre, the tornado reached maximum wind speeds of 275 km/h. Its damage path stretched 15.3 kilometres and reached a maximum width of 620 metres.
Despite the intensity, only one minor injury was reported -- a cut sustained by a first responder.
Climatologically, the Didsbury tornado is one of only three F/EF4 events ever recorded in Alberta and the strongest since the 1987 Edmonton F4. It is also one of only two tornadoes in Canada to be rated EF4 since the Enhanced Fujita scale was adopted in 2013. According to the Northern Tornadoes Project, only 21 tornadoes in Canadian history have been rated F/EF4 or higher.
The storm passed south of Crossfield, near areas used in Thursday's emergency simulation.
IBC: "Now is the time to prepare"
The regional exercise occurred during Emergency Preparedness Week, a national campaign coordinated by Public Safety Canada in partnership with provinces and territories. The Insurance Bureau of Canada marked the occasion by releasing a May 5 statement encouraging Western Canadians to prepare for severe weather.
"Western Canada has been at the epicentre of natural catastrophes in our country, and with another severe weather season fast approaching, now is the time to prepare," said Aaron Sutherland, Western vice-president of IBC. "Emergency Preparedness Week is about being aware of severe weather risks and taking practical steps today to protect what matters most -- our families, our homes and our communities."
According to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ), Alberta and B.C. accounted for more than half of Canada's insured catastrophic losses over the past decade. Alberta was the location of five of the 10 costliest disasters in Canadian history, including the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires ($4.6 billion in insured damage) and the 2024 Calgary hailstorm ($3.1 billion).
Nationally, insured weather-related disaster payouts reached $1 billion in 2019 and 2020, doubled to $2 billion in 2021, climbed to $3 billion in 2022 and 2023, and surged to $8.9 billion in 2024.
In the same release, IBC stated that both Alberta and B.C. have recently announced resilience investments, including flood mapping programs, wildfire mitigation, and more than $400 million in infrastructure upgrades.
"These are critical steps in the right direction in support of the old adage that 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,'" Sutherland said. "Ongoing investment and planning are essential to protect people, property and the infrastructure we depend on."
The IBC release also referenced recent flood impacts in British Columbia, including the 2021 atmospheric river event that inundated Abbotsford, severed key transportation routes and displaced thousands of residents.
IBC advised homeowners and businesses to take specific steps to reduce risk, including clearing flammable debris, installing sump pumps and backflow valves, reinforcing roofing, and parking vehicles under shelter during storm warnings.
Along with these actions, the bureau also encouraged Canadians to review their insurance policies to ensure coverage reflects current risks and to understand the protection they have in place.
"Preparation isn't just a checklist -- it's peace of mind," Sutherland said.
Province urges residents to "know your risks"
Emergency Preparedness Week runs from May 4 to 10 and is coordinated nationally by Public Safety Canada in partnership with provinces and territories, including Alberta. This year marks the final year of a three-year national campaign cycle focused on the theme: "Be prepared. Know your risks."
The campaign is supported provincially by Alberta's Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services. It encourages individuals, families and communities to prepare for regional hazards, including wildfires, floods, tornadoes and severe storms.
The campaign emphasizes risk literacy -- helping Albertans understand local hazards so they can take practical, self-reliant action when emergencies occur. According to provincial campaign materials, a lack of information remains one of the leading barriers to emergency readiness in Alberta.
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