Nova Scotia is a world-class tourism destination with stunning landscapes, vibrant culture and warm hospitality that welcomes thousands of visitors each year. As a coastal province seeing changing weather patterns, there are natural hazards that our visitors may not consider or be familiar with like hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. We have put together this webpage as a resource to help you think ahead and ensure guest and employee safety, and business continuation. The Province of Nova Scotia also offers emergency education tools for support.
Provincial Emergency Education for Nova Scotia
Safety First
- Establish emergency protocols and ensure all staff are trained in emergency procedures.
- Prioritize the safety of visitors and follow local public authorities’ instructions and safety measures.
- Regularly inspect facilities for potential hazards and make upgrades to support the safety and sustainability of your business.
- Check before you burn. Consult provincial burning restrictions daily at 2pm via the BurnSafe map.
Emergency Resources
| Who | Why | Contact |
| Police/Fire/Ambulance | Life threatening emergencies | Dial 911 on any phone |
| Emergency Management Office Nova Scotia | Local authority’s instructions and safety measures | https://beta.novascotia.ca/government/emergency-management-office |
| Road Conditions | Road closures and construction updates | Dial 511 on any phone or https://511.novascotia.ca/ |
| Environment Canada Weather | Climate emergencies or severe weather | https://weather.gc.ca/forecast/canada/index_e.html?id=NS |
| Radio stations in Nova Scotia | Emergency advisories and updates | www.canadianradiodirectory.com/nova-scotia/ |
| Province of Nova Scotia | Emergency Alerts | https://novascotia.ca/alerts/ |
| Nova Scotia Power | No electricity/power outage | https://outagemap.nspower.ca/external/default.html |
| Alert Ready - Canada’s Wireless Public Alerting system for emergency alerts | Check your mobile phone’s compatibility | https://www.alertready.ca/ |
| Natural Resources Canadian Wildland Fire Information System | See real-time locations of wildfires in Canada |
Communication is Key
When emergencies are happening, travellers may not be aware of the situation, or may not be familiar enough with the geography of Nova Scotia to know if their travel plans could be affected. Keeping your guests and employees informed about the situation is the best way to show you care about their experience and your business.
- Provide timely updates via multiple channels such as your website, social media and emails. Proactively reach out to customers with bookings to confirm the status of your operations and information they may need.
- Be clear about your evacuation procedures, alternative accommodations, and refund policies.
- Show compassion towards visitors and employees who may be experiencing stress or uncertainty.
Business Continuation
- Develop a continuity plan that outlines steps to resume operations quickly. Consider back-up systems for data, communications and electricity.
- Collaborate with local authorities, associations, and neighbouring businesses to share resources and support communications and recovery.
- Community engagement is key to fostering resilience and inspiring visitors to support the region. Support local initiatives and contribute to relief efforts.
Emergency Funding Opportunities:
Nova Scotia Disaster Financial Assistance Program
Government of Canada Business Benefits Finder