Post-Hurricane Dorian Information

Emergency Order for Crane Removal

On Sept. 18, the province declared a localized state of emergency to ensure the safe and timely removal of the crane that collapsed on a building in Halifax during Hurricane Dorian.

Download the Declaration of the State of Emergency (PDF)

 

Nova Scotia’s Emergency Management Office is continuing to coordinate the recovery following Hurricane Dorian.

Keep informed below:

Comfort Centres

For information on comfort centres near you, call 211 or visit ns.211.ca/emergency.

Closures

Assistance for Employment Support and Income Assistance clients

Due to extended power outages resulting from Hurricane Dorian, the Department of Community Services is providing emergency assistance for the month of September 2019 to Employment Support and Income Assistant recipients who have been without power for 48 hours or more. The department will provide $110 to a single person, $140 to a couple, and $30 for each dependent. This emergency assistance will not be considered an overpayment (ie: not recovered from future assistance). Other help may be available based on individual circumstances and clients are encouraged to contact their caseworker.

Insurance coverage

Most car, home, and business insurance policies cover damage caused by a hurricane or tropical storm. If you have questions about your coverage, you should contact your insurance representative. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has provided the following information to help Nova Scotians recovering from Hurricane Dorian:

IBC is also available to answer general insurance inquiries at 1-844-2ask-IBC (1-844-227-5422, ext. 228)

Cleaning up safely

Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones during cleanup after a hurricane, flood, or other natural disaster.

  • Wear the right safety gear – gloves, goggles, hard hat, footwear, ear protection
  • Avoid overexertion
  • Pace yourself, take rests, and stay hydrated
  • Don’t work alone
  • Take precautions when using a chainsaw or other potentially dangerous equipment
  • Avoid downed power lines – the work can wait until it is safe to do so

Be prepared

It's important for households to be prepared to take care of themselves for 72 hours. This includes making a plan and having an emergency kit ready:

Safety during the storm or power outage

Hurricane strength winds may cause power, phone and internet outages. In the event of a power outage, your household should be equipped with the necessary information and tips to help prepare and deal with food safety:

  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:
    • Due to carbon monoxide poisoning, if you are using generator, BBQ, or charcoal grill, never use a generator indoors or inside garages.
    • Never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage, even if the doors or windows are open.

Food and Water Safety

  • When the power is out, foods in your fridge and freezer can become a health risk. In the event of a power outage:
    • refrigerated foods will generally stay safe for 4 to 6 hours. Keep the fridge door closed as much as possible.
    • frozen foods in a fully-stocked freezer will stay frozen up to two days; a half-filled freezer about one day. Keep the freezer door closed as much as possible
    • most foods with visible ice crystals, and at temperatures less than 4C (40F) are safe to be refrozen or cooked.
    • try to consume perishable foods that have been cooked as soon as possible after preparation.
    • Frozen Food: When to Save and When to Throw Out - fact sheet


  • Flood water can impact safety of food. In the event of a flood:
    • foods that are contaminated and wrapped and stored in paper, plastic cloth, fiber, or cardboard should be discarded.
    • all food with containers that have screw caps, snap lids, and pull tops should be discarded.
    • only commercially sealed, unopened, undamaged, waterproof, airtight jars or metal cans can be considered safe once they are cleaned and sanitized before opening.


  • Drinking water from wells:
    • if your well has been flooded, don’t use your well water for drinking, cleaning, or bathing.
    • you should stay away from your well pump while your home is flooded because of electrocution risk.
    • if water is not safe you should use bottled water, or boil or disinfect water for cooking and cleaning.

Who to call

911 – Emergencies
Call this number if your health, safety, or property is threatened and you need help right away.

811 – TeleHealth
Call this number for health advice.

511 – Road conditions
Call this number for information about provincial roads.

Other important numbers:
Power outage – 1-877-428-6004
Bell Aliant outage – 1-800-663-2600
Eastlink outage – 1-888-345-1111
Drinking water safety – 1-877-936-8476

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