Emergency Management

Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

The Emergency Management Office wants your feedback on the Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment. 

The easiest way to contribute to the HRVA is to attend a public engagement session in your district and then contribute to our online surveySee our Public Engagement Schedule for a list of engagements near you; all engagements are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise stated. Click the specific event for additional information.

Shape Your City project page for the Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Are you hurricane ready?
Find the emergency preparedness information you need this hurricane season.

 

 

 

Halifax and Emergency Management Logo

Everyone has a role to play in making sure we all stay safe in emergencies.

The Halifax Regional Municipality commits major resources to make our public buildings, roads, bridges, and communities safe.

The Emergency Management Division is responsible for supporting communities and critical municipal services during times of emergency and disaster by:

  • leading the initial response
  • preparing emergency plans
  • coordinating and managing emergency planning with first responders
  • facilitating emergency training and exercises with other first responders and municipal staff
  • providing essential services to those impacted by a disaster
  • engaging with multiple emergency management stakeholders from a holistic approach to support overall community safety and wellness before, during and after disasters
  • maintaining specialized volunteer disaster response Joint Emergency Management teams to deliver comfort centre services during a disaster

Stay informed

In the event of an emergency, residents are encouraged to get the latest information by following @hfxgov on Twitter.

When warranted, the municipality will use its mass notification system hfxALERT  to issue notifications.  Sign up for hfxALERT today.

Support your community during an emergency 

Are you interested in volunteering to help out in an emergency? You can join a Joint Emergency Management (JEM) Team. JEM Teams are a concept developed by the Halifax Regional Municipality's Emergency Management Division to allow community organizations to prepare for and respond quickly to a wide range of emergencies.

Who’s responsible?

The following outlines who is responsible for addressing issues that result from emergency situations (e.g. winter storms, gas leaks, floods, forest fires, tropical storms/ hurricanes). The municipality encourages residents to have a good sense of where their own property ends and where a neighbour’s or municipally-owned property begins. 

  • Municipally-owned trees that fall on private property will be removed by the municipality
  • If a tree falls into the right of way and is blocking/impeding traffic, a sidewalk or bike lane, call 311 to be addressed by a professional crew.
  • Trees located on private land will be the sole responsibility of the homeowner

  • The municipality is not responsible for removing brush and debris from private property

In the event of a problem with a utility pole or power line, contact Nova Scotia Power, or call 1.800.428.6230 | 902.428.6230

Individuals who encounter or experience flooding should contact 311. Calls will be assessed and re-directed accordingly.

Any damage to private property – occurring as a result of a hurricane or other natural disaster – should be reported to your insurance company.

An alarm triggered by a power reconnect, and not as a result of a real emergency, should be reported to a resident’s alarm company. 

Call 911

  • In the event of a power interruption, individuals should contact Nova Scotia Power (at the number provided above)
  • For information regarding well water testing visit Nova Scotia Environment, or call 1.800.565.1633 | 902.424.3600