Preparing For Hurricane Season

The power and destruction of Hurricane Juan has changed the way Nova Scotians think about hurricanes. As we enter prime hurricane season, Nova Scotia's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) is encouraging all individuals to take the time to be prepared.

"Although the Atlantic hurricane season stretches from June to November, late August and into September has proven to usually be the peak time," said Ernest Fage, Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act. "As our experience with Hurricane Juan illustrated, being prepared is critically important."

In an attempt to encourage more individuals to become better prepared, EMO is expanding its public education efforts during hurricane season to include public service announcements and advertisements on local media as well as a poster campaign and an enhanced website.

Hurricanes are violent tropical storms that blow up from the Caribbean. A storm surge is another weather phenomenon which can accompany a hurricane. Storm surges are particularly dangerous when an intense storm arrives at the same time as high tide. Hurricane Juan was accompanied by a powerful storm surge, which saw wave heights of up to 19.9 metres. This created tremendous damage, severe flooding and forced evacuations.

Good information is key to protecting you and your family in an emergency. Nova Scotians are encouraged to listen for weather advisories or warnings and to act accordingly.

To prepare for a weather-related emergency, there are four main things to remember:

• Maintain a disaster or emergency supply kit that includes food, a supply of drinkable water, clothing, blankets, medication, flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries and a first aid kit.
• Secure your home and property. Trim dead or diseased branches from trees and secure objects that could be torn loose or blown around. Protect your home as much as possible from heavy rains and floods.
• Choose a sheltered place for you and your family to wait out the worst of the storm -- a basement, a storm cellar or a secure area away from windows.
• Identify a meeting place for you and your family in advance. This makes it much easier to set up communication and to notify each other of whereabouts and safety if you are separated.

"As we discovered last September, hurricanes are very unpredictable," said the minister. "By following a few simple procedures and plan in advance, we will be better equipped to handle whatever Mother Nature sends our way."

For more information on personal emergency preparedness, how to deal with floods and what to do in an evacuation, see the EMO website at www.gov.ns.ca/emo .