A provincewide state of emergency (SOE) was declared on July 22, in response to the severe flooding that happened across the province on July 21 and ended on July 26.
The following areas are currently the most affected: East and West Hants, Halifax Regional Municipality, Lunenburg, and Queens counties.
Residents are asked to refrain from attempting to access blocked areas to hazardous locations. Extreme caution is also advised near the Sackville River and Bedford Highway area and residents are advised to stay away from flood water in all areas.
The municipality is working with Halifax Water and the Province, along with other partners, to coordinate and prioritize necessary repairs to infrastructure.
Repairs will be extensive and will need to be prioritized. Priority areas will be completed first with other areas to follow. Some repairs will take several days or weeks. Additional information on repair scheduling will be provided once the water has receded, allowing for all assessments to be completed.
Emergency flooding calls are to be directed to Halifax Water at 902-420-9287; call volumes remain high, and residents are asked for their patience. Residents who notice damage to roads and infrastructure are asked to report it to 311 or email hrm_emo@halifax.ca.
The Halifax Water system is safe to drink. See the Province of Nova Scotia’s fact sheet on using well water after a flood.
Residents are advised to avoid swimming in areas where flooding has occurred for 24-48 hours. Excessive rainfall could contribute to higher bacteria levels in the water.
Evacuation centres
The municipality has opened an evacuation centre for residents dealing with power outages and flooding.
The East Dartmouth Community Centre located at 50 Caledonia Road in Dartmouth will remain open until further notice. The Red Cross will be on-site to provide support for those displaced by the floods.
Parks and recreation
All natural turf sport fields are closed, all ball diamonds are closed, and all-weather fields are open.
Sandy Lake Beach in Bedford is closed to swimming until further notice due to an overflowing Halifax Water wastewater pumping station adjacent to the lake. Fish Hatchery Park and Range Park will remain closed until further notice.
Please use caution when using parks and trails and avoid areas that have been affected by flooding where there may be wash outs, debris, standing water or other unsafe conditions.
Please avoid activities on lakes and rivers at this time, as safety is still a concern and shorelines remain extremely susceptible to further damage.
The Bedford Outdoor Pool is significantly damaged and will remain closed until further notice.
Recreation centres will largely be open, but some located in the impacted areas may be closed. Residents should call ahead to their recreation facility.
Helpful links and resources
Over the past ten months our province has experienced unprecedented flooding, wildfires, and a major hurricane that devastated parts of Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland. It is important to be as prepared as possible for an emergency situation.
I have shared important resources in the past covering quick tips for everyone to use as a guide for information on what to do in the different situations we could face across our province. You can read this information here.
Stay up to date on flooding in the Halifax Regional Municipality here.
Alerts and information about emergencies in Nova Scotia can be found here.
Check road closures before heading out in areas that have been impacted by floods here.
You can see current road conditions here.
Nova Scotia Parks advisories can be found here.