Halifax urges people who need extra help in emergencies to join registry

A program in Halifax designed to assist vulnerable residents during emergencies is urging more people to register, but some advocates believe the municipality needs to increase its efforts to raise awareness about the service.

The vulnerable person's registry, launched by the Halifax Regional Municipality a year ago, has only 200 people registered as of last week. The free service is available to individuals with mobility, vision, hearing, or cognitive impairments, as well as those who rely on electricity for critical medical equipment like oxygen or dialysis.

Participants can opt to be contacted via landline, cellphone, or email, and the municipality will reach out during emergencies such as power outages or severe storms.

Kimberley Richardson, a quadriplegic resident of East Preston who uses a power wheelchair, said she hadn't heard much about the registry but plans to sign up. She relies on home care but is often alone for several hours. "You never know what will happen, so it's good to have it in place," Richardson said. "It would just put people at ease knowing someone will check on you if something goes wrong. You won't have to lie on the floor for 48 hours."

However, individuals living in long-term care or supportive housing are ineligible for the program.

Laura Brine, the municipality’s emergency management administrator, oversees the registry. She explained that notifications are sent out ahead of storms to remind people to gather emergency supplies, and another notification is sent during an emergency to offer assistance. "I just want to make sure that people know they’re not forgotten about or left behind," Brine stated.

For those who require help, ground search and rescue teams are dispatched, particularly in rural areas with fewer resources. Brine shared that the service had been activated four times this year, including during winter storms, which helped identify individuals who couldn’t make it to essential appointments, like dialysis, or needed supplies. "We were able to help clear their doors or provide the supplies they needed," she said.

If someone on the registry does not respond, the police will conduct a well-being check, Brine added.

Bill VanGorder, from the Nova Scotia chapter of CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons), expressed concern that the registry isn't reaching enough people, especially since many of CARP’s 6,000 members in the Halifax area aren't signed up. "HRM hasn't done enough to promote the program," VanGorder said, noting that CARP hasn’t received any information to distribute to its members. He hopes more people will register, especially seniors who may benefit greatly from the service, especially after the isolation issues highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Knowing that help would be available if they were alone makes seniors more comfortable staying in their homes longer," he added.

Brine mentioned that the emergency management team has expanded in the past year and now has more resources to promote the registry.

Residents interested in signing up or learning more can visit the Halifax municipal website or call 311 to check their eligibility for the service.