Supporting Municipalities Vital to Provincial Emergency Preparedness

EMERGENCY MEASURES ORGANIZATION--Supporting Municipalities Vital to Provincial Emergency Preparedness

Ninety-five per cent of municipalities across the province have received a rating of excellent or good for their emergency preparedness capabilities.

Every two years, the provincial Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) evaluates each municipality's emergency preparedness. This allows the provincial EMO to identify and advise the municipalities on specific areas for improvement.

"We are extremely pleased with the results of the evaluations," said Ernest Fage, Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act. "This clearly demonstrates the municipalities' level of commitment to emergency planning."

For the fiscal year ending March 2005, 38 municipalities received an excellent rating; 14 received a good rating; and three municipalities received a fair rating.

Overall, 95 per cent of municipalities rated excellent or good -- up from 72 per cent in 2002-03.

"Emergency situations strike locally," said Craig MacLaughlan, executive director of EMO. "Providing Nova Scotia's municipalities with the tools to be prepared is the cornerstone of ensuring the safety of our province."

To support municipalities during emergencies, the provincial EMO recently announced a grant program to cost-share the purchase of generators. The generators will supply back-up power for comfort centres, fire halls, and other locations. Comfort centres are alternate locations, such as schools or community centres, that are set up to provide temporary shelter to those who need assistance during emergencies.

In 2004-05, the provincial EMO provided $300,000 in funding for 151 generators. EMO assisted the municipalities with 50 per cent of the cost, to a maximum of $3,600 per generator. Through this grant program, at least one generator was purchased in almost every municipality in Nova Scotia.

EMO will be developing a proposal for additional funds for the current fiscal year to continue this program.