Nova Scotians are encouraged to be ready to cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency.

Provincial Guidelines on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness 

Learn more by clicking on the categories below to download a PDF fact sheet:

  pdf Colchester Regional Emergency Management Plan (1.79 MB) – Is an all hazards plan to provide the context within which extraordinary measures can be taken to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents, prevent or minimize property damage or loss, protect the environment, and minimize economic disruption when faced with an emergency.

  pdf Colchester Regional Evacuation Plan (1.35 MB) - This plan is to provide a path through which a timely and effective evacuation and reception of people can be achieved.

  pdf Colchester Regional Severe Storms Contingency Plan (1.24 MB) - There is no sure way to anticipate every contingency during those storms, but a severe storm response contingency plan will help develop responses for a wide range of occurrences. A severe storm response plan will enable a quicker, more effective, and more efficient response, and lead to a speedier recovery. This plan works in conjunction with the Colchester Regional Emergency Plan and other emergency plans.

  pdf Colchester Regional Wildfire Contingency Plan (1.24 MB) - This plan is to outline the procedures that will be used in a wildfire event that necessitates the need for an evacuation within Colchester County. It works in concert with other emergency plans.

  pdf Colchester Regional Communication Contingency Plan (1009 KB) - This plan is to outline the procedures that will be used in a widespread communications failure event or how to disseminate critical information after a disaster that necessitates the need for effective communications within Colchester County. This document works in conjunction with all of the emergency plans for Colchester Regional EMO.

  pdf Colchester Regional Dangerous Goods Contingency Plan (1.45 MB) - This plan is to outline the procedures that will be used in a hazardous material release that necessitates the need for an evacuation within Colchester County and works in concert with other regional emergency management documents.

  pdf Colchester Regional Flood Contingency Plan (2.82 MB) - There is no sure way to anticipate every contingency during a flood event, but a flood response contingency plan will help develop responses for a wide range of occurrences. This plan works with the other emergency plans in Colchester County.

If you have any questions concerning the Colchester Regional Emergency Management Plan, please feel free to call the EMO Coordinator, David Westlake, using the information below:

Phone: 902-893-8511
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Office Address

37 Pictou Road,
Bible Hill

(please call in advance to ensure the EMO Coordinator is in the office)

Before the day of modern conveniences, such as electricity, oil heat and automobiles, communities were generally self-sufficient when natural disasters struck their towns. Today, modern technologies have made us far more vulnerable and it has increased the chance of encountering a disaster.

Every day, communities face potential man-made or natural disasters. Each village or town is exposed to hazardous materials traveling on their streets or to industrial or engineering installations that could endanger the surrounding populations if they malfunction.  Environmentally, Canada has been exposed to ever changing weather extremes, earthquakes, major floods, ice storms and hurricanes. All these potential hazards make Emergency Planning so vital. 

The Municipality of Colchester, Town of Stewiacke and the Town of Truro, signed an Agreement to develop one Emergency Plan for the region.  This plan was developed by the Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO). The REMO is made up of the Regional Emergency Management Advisory Committee, the Regional Protective Services Coordinator and the Regional Emergency Planning Committee.  The Advisory Committee is comprised of the Mayor of each Municipality and one other elected official. The Planning Committee is comprised of representatives from community services, law enforcement, fire, health services, engineering, transportation and communications.

Goal

The goal of the Regional Emergency Management Organization for the Colchester Region is to establish arrangements and procedures necessary for the earliest possible coordinated response in order that the following be assured:

  • minimize the effects of an emergency or disaster on the Colchester Region and its citizens.
  • the safety and preservation of health, private property and the environment and.
  • the restoration of essential services.

Definitions

What is a disaster?

Any real or anticipated occurrence which endangers the lives, safety, welfare and well-being of some or all of the people and which cannot be brought under control by the use of all the regular Municipal Government services and resources may be called a disaster.

What is an Emergency?

An abnormal situation which, to limited damage to persons, property, or the environment, requires prompt action beyond normal procedures (all disasters are emergencies but not all emergencies are disasters).

What is an Emergency Management Plan?

A planned program or procedures prepared by the Municipality that aims (1) to mitigate the effects of an emergency or disaster, and (2) to safeguard the health or welfare of the population, and to protect property and the environment, in the event of an emergency or disaster.

What is Protective Services Coordinator?

A Protective Services Coordinator is a person hired or appointed by the Municipality.  One of their duties is to develop and coordinate the preparation and maintenance of municipal emergency management plans such as emergency evacuation.