Lunenburg Part 2 - Section 5 - Social Vulnerability - August 30.pdf

A representative of REMO noted that limited time and resources are constraints to emergency
planning in the District – REMO has no full time staff, and no single department or group is
involved in emergency management on a day-to-day basis. Consultees noted that retirees who
had been active in emergency management are not necessarily replaced. However, local
governments are supportive and involved in emergency management; residents frequently
contact their councilor in the case of road access problems due to snow, or long term power
outages.
There is very strong community involvement in the District’s Volunteer Fire Departments; fire
halls are important community gathering-places, and consultees mentioned that most local
people have at least one relative on the fire department. Summer residents are generally much
less involved in emergency management efforts. Consultees unanimously agreed that local fire
departments are very knowledgeable about their communities, and offer excellent service.
Fire departments work to prepare residents for anticipated weather events, such as in Petite
Riviere, where warning fliers are distributed, and the fire hall opened the day prior to an
expected storm. In the event of a severe storm, Fire Halls are opened as comfort stations as
early as 12 hours following the event, although they are only required to provide this service
after 72 hours. Consultees noted that local fire departments have very good knowledge about
areas at risk, those with access problems, and local residents that may require assistance.
Challenges for local fire departments include aging facilities that may experience storm damage;
some may also be located in hazardous locations themselves, such as the Petite Riviere Fire
department, which is located on the Petite River, and requires sandbagging in the event of very
heavy rainfall. Department members also noted that their volunteer status can be limiting: they
lack the authority to close a road due to safety concerns if falling trees or high winds cause
damage to power lines.
Consultees felt that the experience of minor events, such as long power outages, has helped to
prepare residents and emergency managers for the possibility of a more serious situation;
however, other storms that were expected to cause serious damage, but ultimately weakened
before impacting the area, may have generated a false sense of invulnerability amongst some
residents. Some consultees recounted that residents may refuse to evacuate in advance of a
storm, some staying to storm-watch or even swim in the ocean during a hurricane, placing
themselves in avoidable peril.
Community
Consultees described a strong sense of community in the District of Lunenburg, challenged by
its being spread over a large area. Councilors are engaged with their communities, and the
current mayor holds a town hall meeting in each district on an annual basis. Communities have
an ethos of ‘looking after their own,’ and consultees felt that neighbours would be aware of
community members who might require assistance, and would provide help to those residents.
In some of its activities, the District of Lunenburg adopts a similar approach; the recreation
department has a policy of ‘for the community, by the community,’ and does not build facilities or
infrastructure until the community asks for it. Comfort centres that function during and after storm
events are also community-organized, not operated by REMO.
While these indicators of community involvement are positive signs of healthy communities,
reliance on neighbours to be aware of residents that may require assistance, and on
communities to advocate for their own needs, may neglect the needs of some residents. Socially
vulnerable residents are less likely to feel entitled to community services, and may be unaware
of available channels to advocate for their own needs. Those at risk of being overlooked include
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