Environment and Conservation
Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs
July 21, 2014
Adapting to Climate Change Benefits Families and Communities
$90,000 Contract Awarded to Support Hurricane Flood Alert Program
As part of Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook, a contract has been awarded to AMEC as part of a $90,000 investment for the continuation of a three-year Hurricane Flood Alert program in 45 communities throughout the province.
“As climate change continues to affect our province, more communities are experiencing flooding and need flood risk warning systems to allow them to prepare and react quickly. By investing in monitoring and research, our government has taken action to provide those living in areas more prone to flooding the tools they need to respond to adverse precipitation events.”
- The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Environment and Conservation and Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
The Hurricane Flood Alert Service examines several weather and research forecast models daily to generate precipitation forecasts based on a set of site specific triggers. Alert information is provided to Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador, which connects with identified communities to relay information and encourage monitoring and preparedness related to elevated water levels and possible flooding. This investment delivers on a commitment in Charting Our Course: Climate Change Action Plan 2011 in which government committed to enhance the province’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
“Emergency planning and preparedness is a key component of public safety. Through the support of Fire and Emergency Services-NL, the Provincial Government has put significant resources in place to support municipalities in developing and exercising emergency management plans. With the increasing risks associated with extreme weather and climate change, the Hurricane Flood Alert Service will enhance public safety for communities and residents of Newfoundland and Labrador living in flood prone areas.”
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-NL
AMEC will deliver the Hurricane Flood Alert program to 45 communities in partnership with the Department of Environment and Conservation. For a list of communities, please see backgrounder below.
QUICK FACTS:
- Budget 2014 provided $90,000 for Hurricane Flood Alert monitoring.
- Through Budget 2014, the Provincial Government invested $9.3 million in environmental protection.
- In 2012-13, nearly 5,000 storm forecasts were generated for 45 communities providing 55 flood alerts.
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Media contacts:
Deborah Thomas Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 728-8092 deborahthomas@gov.nl.ca |
Kelly Maguire Manager of Communications Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-0857 , 690-1810 kellymaguire@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Hurricane Flood Relief Alert Program
The Hurricane Flood Relief Alert program will be made available to the following communities.
# | Area/Community |
1 | Appleton/Glenwood |
2 | Battle Harbour |
3 | Bay Roberts (Shearstown) |
4 | Bishops Falls |
5 | Black Duck Siding |
6 | Burgeo |
7 | Carbonear |
8 | Channel-Port aux Basques |
9 | Churchill Falls |
10 | Clarenville (Shoal Harbour) |
11 | Cold Brook |
12 | Comfort Cove |
13 | Corner Brook |
14 | Daniel's Harbour |
15 | Deer Lake |
16 | Gander |
17 | Glovertown |
18 | Great Codroy (Codroy Valley) |
19 | Hant’s Harbour |
20 | Happy Valley-Goose Bay |
21 | Heart’s Delight-Islington (Heart’s Delight) |
22 | Hickman’s Harbour-Robinson Bight (Hickman’s Harbour) |
23 | Hodges Cove |
24 | Kippens (Gaudon’s Brook) |
25 | La Scie |
26 | Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove |
27 | Mary’s Harbour |
28 | Mount Pearl (Waterford River) |
29 | Nain |
30 | Petty Harbour |
31 | Portugal Cove-St. Philip's |
32 | Salmon Cove |
33 | St. Alban’s |
34 | St. Anthony |
35 | St. John’s (Goulds and Waterford River) |
36 | St. Lawrence |
37 | Steady Brook |
38 | Stephenville |
39 | Stephenville Crossing |
40 | Trout River |
41 | Victoria |
42 | Wabush |
43 | Whitbourne |
44 | Winterton |
2014 07 21 11:30 a.m.