Minister Announces Preparation and Response to Scheduled Aliant Repairs

As part of ongoing efforts in provincial emergency planning, Municipal Affairs Minister the Honourable Jack Byrne today announced details of Operation Communications, an emergency communications and action plan that will become operational during scheduled repairs by Aliant to its telecommunications system during the nights of November 27, 28, and 29, 2006.

For six hours during each of the three nights, beginning November 27 at 12:01 a.m. and concluding at 6 a.m., Aliant will make permanent repairs at its Allandale Road facility in St. John�s. The work is required to repair damages caused by a fire on October 20 that affected telecommunications services to the Avalon region and other areas of the province. Aliant officials have advised the repairs will take a maximum of three nights.

�Aliant has assured us they do not anticipate any impact on telecommunications services as a result of the scheduled repairs,� said Minister Byrne. �However as a necessary precaution, Newfoundland and Labrador Fire and Emergency Services is co-ordinating Operation Communications. There is an onus on government to prepare for the possibility, however unlikely. This is a valuable emergency preparedness and learning exercise for all emergency responders and service providers who can then incorporate what they�ve learned into their municipal emergency plans.�

Newfoundland and Labrador Fire and Emergency Services (NLF&ES) will play the lead role in coordinating all emergency responders during Operation Communications including municipal, health, fire and police services. The area included in the exercise includes all of St. John�s and surrounding area, and some 24 additional communities, mostly located east of Glovertown. All potentially impacted communities have been contacted and briefed by NLF&ES staff.

Municipalities and local service districts in potential impact areas have been advised to staff their emergency services facilities such as fire, community and town halls during the period of the Aliant repair work. All communities will be responsible for informing their residents of the details for access to emergency services in the event of a telecommunications interruption.

�While we do not anticipate an interruption of telecommunications services resulting from the Aliant repair, in the wake of the events of October 20 the province recognizes the need to ensure that all emergency responders are equipped to deal with a telecommunications failure,� said Fred Hollett, director of Fire and Emergency Services. �Citizens are advised that if they require emergency assistance during an interruption in telephone service, they should go to the nearest fire department, police station or other emergency site established by their municipality or local service district.�

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communication
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 690-2498
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2006 11 23                                   10:45 a.m.