Province encourages Nova Scotians to be prepared for emergencies

Nova Scotians are encouraged to have an emergency kit ready with supplies for at least 72 hours in case they lose power or running water following an emergency such as a wildfire or major storm. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia / File)

The Nova Scotia government is encouraging residents to be prepared for emergencies.

May 4–10 is Emergency Preparedness Week, a time the province hopes residents will use to prepare themselves and their households for emergencies.

As part of the week, a test of the national Alert Ready system will take place on Wednesday at 1:55 p.m. Everyone with a compatible mobile device will receive the alert, which will be identified as a test.

“An emergency can happen at a moment’s notice, which is why it’s important to be prepared. Whether it’s a hurricane, flood or wildfire, people need to have a household plan to prepare for evacuations, power outages or damage to their homes. It’s also a good time to check on your neighbours to see if they’re ready for an emergency,” said Kim Masland, minister of Emergency Management, in a news release from the province.

“Before an emergency happens, people should know the risks, make a plan and discuss it as a family, and build a grab-and-go kit to make sure they’re ready in the event of an emergency.” The government recommends Nova Scotian be prepared to be without power or running water for at least 72 hours following events like wildfires, hurricanes or major winter storms.

To prepare for such an event, the province suggests having an emergency kit stored in a duffel bag or plastic bin and access to important personal documents. The kit can include items such as:

• an emergency planat least six litres of water per person (two litres per day)
• canned and dry foods that won’t spoil and can be eaten without cooking
• manual can opener
• first-aid supplies
• at least a three-day supply of prescription medicines
• wind-up or battery-powered flashlight
• wind-up or battery-powered radio
• extra batteries for the flashlight and radio
• money in small bills
• copies of important documents such as driver’s licence, birth certificate, passport, will and insurance papers
• pet food (if you have a pet)

Nova Scotians are also advised to keep their gas tanks full and cellphones charged and to understand what their insurance plan covers in the event of damage.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page