Preparing for Tropical Storm Erin - Nova Scotia Power gets ready to respond

Halifax, Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia Power is activating its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at noon tomorrow (Thursday, August 29) in advance of Tropical Storm Erin.

“There can be a lot of variability with tropical storms, so we’re activating our EOC to ensure we are fully prepared for any impacts Erin may bring,” said Matt Drover, Nova Scotia Power’s Storm Lead. “We’re placing crews around the province and working with staff and contractors to make sure we can respond safely and quickly as needed. We are closely monitoring the weather forecasts, so if the storm shifts, we can modify our response effort too.”

Weather forecasts suggest Erin could reach Nova Scotia as a post tropical storm Thursday night into early Friday morning, delivering high wind gusts and heavy rain. High winds have the potential to bring trees and branches into contact with power lines, causing outages.

Nova Scotia Power’s EOC provides centralized coordination for outage restoration planning and response, as well as liaison with the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office (EMO). If power outages occur, Nova Scotia Power will operate its EOC until the last customer is safely restored.

Safety

Safety is Nova Scotia Power’s number one priority. Stay away from downed power lines and immediately call 1-877-428-6004. If there is a public or personal safety risk, please call 911.

Nova Scotia Power encourages customers to plan for their safety. Some tips include:

• Monitor local weather forecasts
• Have an emergency kit that includes flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh water
• Ensure backup generators are installed properly outdoors
• Charge electronic devices
• If a power outage occurs, turn off and unplug electrical equipment, such as televisions and computers, to prevent damage when power is restored.

Visit www.nspower.ca/stormready for a full list of safety and storm preparedness tips.

Outage Information

Customers can report outages online via the outage map or by calling Nova Scotia Power’s outage line at 1-877-428-6004. Restoration times are also available by calling the outage line or checking the outage map, which is updated every 15 minutes.