Premier Urges Caution

Premier John Hamm is urging all Nova Scotians to stay safe and secure during today's winter storm.

"With Nova Scotia in a state of emergency, everybody should remain at home with their families, stay off the highways and let emergency crews go about their work," said the premier. "Public safety is our number one priority."

Earlier today, Feb. 19, a provincial state of emergency was declared by Ernest Fage, minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act.

The province's emergency operations centre has been activated to help local communities deal with the storm.

The weekly cabinet meeting to be held today has been cancelled. The premier continues to receive regular updates from Mr. Fage and senior officials from the Emergency Measures Organization and other provincial departments and agencies.

In some areas of the province, more than 50 centimetres of snow have fallen, with winds gusting at 100 kilometres per hour.