Hantsport unveils emergency facility

By Brent Fox

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

It’s brand new, well equipped, up-to-date - and they hope they never have to use it.

Regional Emergency Measures officials and Mayor Wayne Folker welcomed local media recently to Hantsport’s new emergency operations centre.

Folker said the facility is necessary and will have everything it should need.

West Hants regional emergency services coordinator Albert Bahri said, “it’s pretty well equipped the way we wanted it to be. It has come a long way.”

There are computer and communications systems as well as video capabilities. Also, there are a number of quiet rooms for temporary offices to be established during an emergency. In total, the facility will cost about $120,000.

“During an actual operation,” Bahri said, “this would be a beehive of activity.”

As well, the media would be a key component in getting the word out to the public.

Bahri is responsible for emergency measures in Windsor, West Hants and Hantsport.

He noted that his area has centres for Windsor and West Hants. There are redundancies built into the system, he pointed out, and “we can move from location to location.” On the other hand, “we hope we never have to use it.”

The Hantsport facility is seen as being especially central in the eastern Valley area.

Kings County emergency services manager Gary Smith noted that the event was in keeping with Emergency Preparedness Week, May 4-10. He reiterated the message that residents have to have the proper equipment and essentials on hand to be prepared to survive up to three days without assistance in case of emergency.

People have to know the risks, have a plan and be prepared, he said.

For example, emergency preparedness materials at home include food, flashlights, radios, spare batteries, first-aid kit, keys, money, clothing, blankets and sleeping bags, medications, packs, whistle, cards and games, non-electric stove and garbage bags.

The new centre was constructed with assistance under the federal Joint Emergency Planning Program (JEPP).