N.S. Supports Emergency Preparedness Week

An Emergency Idol competition in Kentville and a demonstration of public alerting on The Weather Network are two of several events being held in Nova Scotia next week to mark Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada, May 6-12.

Primary to Grade 6 students will compete for prizes at the 4th annual Environment, Health and Safety Expo at the Kentville Fire Hall and Arena on Sunday, May 6. The show is presented by the Annapolis Valley Safe Communities Coalition. The Emergency Management Office of Nova Scotia has donated prizes, including battery-powered, hand-crank AM-FM radios with built-in flashlight and siren alarm.

"I encourage all Nova Scotians to think about their own families' needs in an emergency, and to plan ahead," said Emergency Management Minister Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. "There are many easy-to-use planning tools available to help people look after themselves in the first 72 hours of an emergency, so first responders can assist those in more urgent need of help. Those resources are on our website at gov.ns.ca/emo, and the federal site at epweek.ca."

Ms. Bolivar-Getson adds that families should make sure they have up-to-date emergency kits for their homes and vehicles.

The Emergency Management Office will also broadcast test messages to Nova Scotia viewers of The Weather Network, on Wednesday, May 9.

"The public needs to be aware of emergency situations so they can take action to protect themselves and their families. The Weather Network is pleased to work with the province of Nova Scotia to demonstrate how our unique technology allows provincial authorities to warn the public in times of an emergency," said Paul Temple, vice-president at the Weather Network. "The demonstration on May 9 will help raise awareness of the importance of public alerting in times on emergencies."

Other events and advertising include:

• a full-page newspaper ad in the Halifax Chronicle Herald to promote the 72 Hours - Is your family prepared? message. The ad is co-sponsored by EMO Nova Scotia, Public Safety Canada, Aliant, Nova Scotia Power, RCMP emergency services section and the Canadian Red Cross;

• feature interviews on The Weather Network with EMO CEO Craig MacLaughlan and Emergency Management Planning Officer Dominic Fewer, to be broadcast nationally during Emergency Preparedness Week;

• distribution of brochures and posters to municipal emergency measures co-ordinators, provincial government offices, libraries, law enforcement agencies, first responders and media outlets;

• an EMO presentation on the new technology behind the joint emergency operations centre in Dartmouth, to the Emergency Management Association of Atlantic Canada education conference, Friday, May 11;

• the introduction of a new training workshop to help persons with disabilities prepare for emergencies. The workshop was developed in co-operation with the Persons with Disabilities Emergency Preparedness Committee, and will be delivered to organizations throughout the province following completion of a train-the-trainers program.

• a mall display promoting Emergency Preparedness Week at the community kiosk in the Halifax Shopping Centre.

Emergency Preparedness Week is a national event that promotes the need for individuals to care for themselves and their families in the first 72 hours of an emergency. It was first introduced in 1996. A comprehensive list of tools and resources is available on the Emergency Preparedness Week website at www.epweek.ca .

The Emergency Management Office of Nova Scotia is responsible for ensuring prompt, co-ordinated responses to emergencies. Its head office is located in Dartmouth, with regional offices in Sydney, Truro, Kentville and Lunenburg.