News release

Open House

Emergency Management Office

If you have ever been curious about what happens in an emergency operations centre when a disaster strikes, you can see first-hand next week.

Nova Scotia's high-tech emergency operations centre is open to the public for tours on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Emergency Management Minister Carolyn Bolivar-Getson said it is a great opportunity for Nova Scotians to see how the province and its partners are moving into the digital age to support public safety.

"We have a strong reputation across Canada for our emergency 911 system," said Ms. Bolivar-Getson. "Other jurisdictions also look to our success in running a joint-operations centre with our municipal and federal partners."

Emergency Management Office staff will be available to answer questions about using technology in emergencies, the 911 system, emergency-management training, business-continuity management and public alerting. Outside, in the parking lot, partner agencies will have an impressive display of command and response vehicles.

Participating agencies include the RCMP, Department of National Defence, Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association, Canadian Red Cross, Halifax Regional Municipality Fire Service, Emergency Health Services and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

The province will also display its new field satellite system that can send video and audio from an emergency site back to the joint emergency operations centre.

Visitors can also pick up a free copy of the 72 Hours brochure, which includes useful tips for preparing emergency kits for homes and vehicles.

The Emergency Management Office is located in the Eric Spicer Municipal Building, 21 Mount Hope Ave., Dartmouth.