We sat down with Blaise MacDonald, Antigonish Emergency Management Coordinator, to ask what the Antigonish has been doing to prepare for the next major wildfire, flood, hurricane, or other disaster. Turns out that a lot has changed since Hurricane Fiona - we now have an Antigonish Regional Emergency Management Plan on the books (as of 2022). Blaise gives us all the details in this week’s episode. A full overview is provided below. Here are some links to resources mentioned in the episode:

Red Cross 72-hour emergency kit info

Red Cross Be Ready emergency preparedness info

Antigonish County emergency preparedness info

Town of Antigonish emergency preparedness info

Summary of the episode (auto-generated):

Summary

This episode of "Let's Talk Antigonish" features host Justin speaking with Blaise MacDonald, the Antigonish Regional Emergency Management Coordinator, about emergency preparedness in Antigonish town and county. The conversation covers how the region has strengthened its emergency response capabilities since Hurricane Fiona.

Key Topics Covered

Emergency Management Structure

* Leadership: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is led by either the town's CAO (Randy DeLorey) or county's CEO (Sherlyn Donovan), with Blaise supporting the team

* Locations: Two dedicated EOC locations - primary at Beech Hill municipal office, secondary at Main Street town hall

* Team composition: Includes town/county employees, RCMP, fire departments, EHS, and ground search and rescue

Emergency Response Scenarios

Wildfire Response:

* Department of Natural Resources (DNR) coordinates actual fire suppression

* Local emergency management activates when fires exceed local capacity

* Regular tabletop exercises practice wildfire scenarios (like the recent Pinevale area exercise)

Evacuation Procedures:

* Alert Ready system broadcasts over radio, TV, and cell phones

* Door-to-door notification by ground search and rescue in areas with poor cell coverage

* 23 comfort centers and 2 emergency shelters available

Facilities and Capacity

Emergency Shelters (overnight accommodation):

* CACL/Legion facility in downtown core

* Heatherton community centre in Heatherton

* Combined capacity: approximately 400 people

* Equipped with beds, cots, blankets, hygiene kits, and backup generators

Comfort Centers (temporary refuge):

* 23 locations for short-term stays

* Provide device charging, refreshments, information updates

* Not equipped for overnight stays

Improvements Since Hurricane Fiona

* Antigonish Regional Emergency Management Plan adopted (2022)

* Dedicated emergency shelters established

* Two EOC locations identified

* Enhanced communication protocols

* Better coordination with provincial and federal partners

* 10-year agreements with shelter facilities

Personal Preparedness Recommendations

* Emergency kits: 72-hour supplies including food, water, medications

* Important documents: Multiple copies of passports, ID stored in accessible locations

* Emergency plans: Contact information and evacuation routes

* Resource: Canadian Red Cross website for kit and planning guidance

Community Support Systems

* Vulnerable persons registry: Province-wide program in development

* Neighbour support: Emphasis on community members checking on elderly and at-risk neighbors

* Volunteer opportunities: Fire departments, Nova Scotia Guard, comfort center organizations, Red Cross

New Fire Training Facility

* Located in Lower South River Industrial Park on 5-acre site

* Will provide live fire training, search and rescue, vehicle extrication, and dry hydrant operations

* Benefits all 9 regional fire departments (8 county + 1 town)

* Currently in development phase with legal agreements pending

Current Drought Conditions

* Mandatory water restrictions in place

* Provincial restrictions on outdoor activities, ATVs in woods, and outdoor fires

* Human activity identified as primary wildfire risk factor, but lightning still a major cause of wildfire

* Extremely dry conditions throughout the region

Additional Resources

* Nova Scotia Guard: 1,000 trained volunteers available province-wide for emergency response

* Provincial/Federal support: Available for events exceeding local capacity

* Public information: Town and county websites, Alert Ready system, local radio (XFM)

Key Takeaways

Blaise emphasized several important points:

* Stay calm and prepared - understand local hazards (wildfire, flooding)

* Community cooperation - neighbours should look out for each other

* Personal responsibility - maintain emergency kits and plans

* Trust in systems - significant improvements made since Fiona

* Get involved - volunteer opportunities available in fire departments and emergency services

The episode demonstrates that Antigonish has significantly strengthened its emergency preparedness infrastructure and response capabilities, with comprehensive plans for various disaster scenarios and strong community partnerships.

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