Key Words During an Emergency
State of Emergency (SOE)
A State of Emergency can be declared by the Provincial Minister or renewed by the Minister pursuant to the Emergency Management Act. An official declaration of SOE provides extraordinary powers in relation to the area of the province affected by the SOE declaration. The extraordinary powers, outlined in Section 14 of the NS Emergency Management Act (PDF), include: Seize real or personal property; Require a qualified person to render aid; Control or prohibit travel; Restore essential services; Cause evacuation; Authorize entry without a warrant; Cause demolition; or Procure or fix prices.
State of Local Emergency (SOLE)
A State of Local Emergency can be declared by a Municipality pursuant to the NS Emergency Management Act. An official declaration of SOLE provides extraordinary powers in relation to the area of the municipality affected by the SOLE declaration. The Declaration will identify specific powers, identify to whom they are delegated and where the powers are in force. The extraordinary powers, outlined in Section 14 of the NS Emergency Management Act (PDF), include: Seize real or personal property; Require a qualified person to render aid; Control or prohibit travel; Restore essential services; Cause evacuation; Authorize entry without a warrant; Cause demolition; or Procure or fix prices.
Voluntary Evacuation
A warning signals that a risk is present and a potential threat to life or property. At this point evacuating is at the discretion of the individual whether they remain or not. You do not need to leave but you need to get ready to leave on short notice. Those who require additional time to evacuate or those with pets or livestock should prepare to leave their homes.
Mandatory Evacuation
There is an immediate threat to life and safety that requires people to leave their homes immediately. All persons in the affected area will be advised that in the interest of their own safety and considering the risk, they are now ordered to leave the area. Emergency workers may not be able to provide assistance if people fail to comply with this order. While the evacuation order is in effect, the area impacted will typically have controlled access. A declaration of a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) will normally be put in place for a mandatory evacuation. It is helpful to responders if you leave a note before you leave indicating everyone has evacuated safely.
Emergency Coordination Centre ‘ECC’
The Emergency Coordination Centre ‘ECC’ is to support field operations by obtaining and providing resources, maintaining up-to-date information, coordinating activities, providing information to the public, and bringing chief decision-makers together to coordinate their response to a disaster. This does not address emergencies that are normally handled at the scene by the appropriate first responding agencies under their normal operating processes.
Comfort Centre
Comfort Centre is a facility that is used for residents who are Sheltering In Place and remaining in their homes during an emergency but do not have full services such as electricity, heat, and water. Comfort Centres do not provide overnight accommodations. Comfort Centres may provide any of the following: a place to go to get warm/cool; light refreshments; the ability to charge electronic devices; local updates; a community gathering point; or washroom facilities. Comfort Centres are run by a local volunteer organization so the facility may not be open in every emergency.
Reception / Registration Centre
Reception / Registration Centre is a facility is used to share information to residents about the incident creating a sense of community to build support networks for evacuees. The Mayor/Warden, Police, Fire, Red Cross, and other agencies may visit daily to provide information to evacuees about emerging issues. Information about any special requirements of evacuees needs to be available to the Reception Centres in advance in order to coordinate the appropriate accommodation. Appropriate support services need to be readily available to evacuees as the transition plan around the closing of the Reception Centres is developed including transportation requirements. Red Cross will staff the Reception Centre and take registration of the evacuees at the Reception Centre.
Emergency Shelter
Emergency Shelter is a facility opened at the request of the Lunenburg County Regional Emergency Management Organization in a large-scale emergency and is operated by the Canadian Red Cross, under the direction of the Department of Community Services. An Emergency Shelter includes providing personal services, accommodation and can include psycho-social services.
Shelter In Place
Shelter In Place refers to the practice of remaining inside your home, school, or place of work during certain types of emergencies. Shelter in Place or “hunker down” means you are ready to comfortably stay in your home for at least 3 days (72 hours) without needing to go out for supplies even if the power is off. Although the 9-1-1 lines stay open, help may take longer to get to you during storm conditions. Everyone’s shelter in place plan should be unique to their family’s circumstances.
