Town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Types of Emergencies

A brief hazard analysis of potential dangers to the town follows which describes the possible likelihood of each type of disaster.

Hurricane/Wind Storm/Snow

During the winter months, severe weather conditions often occur in this area including heavy snowfalls, ice storms, and severe winds. Long-term power outages resulting from these conditions can cause severe hardship. Winds generally blow off the Minas Basin in a southwesterly direction.

During the hurricane season, Nova Scotia often receives the tail end of these furies. The procession of hurricanes up the Atlantic coast in the summer of 1995 demonstrates how helpless we are to the whims of nature.

Flood

Damage by wind and snow can be complicated by the action of our local tides. There have been two significant floods in the town of Wolfville in recent history (April 1977, April 1958). During the 1977 flood, the low areas of Gaspereau Extension were flooded, displacing about 25 people for 5 days. Nine houses and one business were affected and one house was completely destroyed. Many basements required extensive repairs due to damage by salt water.

The flood was a consequence of 30 foot tides, a heavy rain storm, and strong northeasterly winds. After the event, the dyke wall was repaired and built up to 28.5 feet. Though flooding is infrequent, seasonal high tides (approx. 20 year cycle) combined with heavy snow melt can pose a flood threat.

Fire

The Wolfville Fire Department responds to approximately 130 calls a year. The majority of these alarms are considered minor, i.e. chimney and grass fires. However, there is potential for a large-scale fire in the downtown core and in other large buildings located in the town. Some of these buildings, if not physically connected, are in close proximity to each other. Many of these buildings are older, and their construction (wood frame) makes for easy fire-spread.

Explosion

The restaurants of Wolfville all use propane gas as their principle means of food preparation. Though the use of propane under normal circumstances is safe, accidents can rupture storage tanks, valves, or feed lines. An out-of-control vehicle in the back lanes of downtown Wolfville could cause an explosion. An accident involving a propane delivery truck could prove catastrophic. A recent propane leak on a delivery truck at McDonalds Restaurant in New Minas (April 1995) demonstrates how easily this could happen. The recent pipe bomb explosion at the Wolfville Liquor Commission (Sept. 1995) reinforces the possibility of criminal activity.

Construction Accident

Heavy snowfalls, frequent changes in occupancy, and building fatigue might place undue stress on buildings and contribute to their collapse. Other disastrous occurrences, such as, flood, fire, or explosion might jeopardize the stability of any structure.

Transportation Accidents Involving hazardous Materials/Roads

Wolfville's proximity to the 101 Highway creates perhaps the town's greatest threat for disaster. Today's lifestyle depends on the use of a multitude of materials that are classified as hazardous. These agents are everywhere in varying amounts. Under normal storage conditions, these chemicals and substances pose no threat to life. However, fire or transportation accidents may rupture containers and release these hazardous substances into the air or water systems. Wolfville's location below the Highway make it vulnerable to accidents involving either liquids or gaseous materials which are heavier than air. The spillage from such an accident would run downhill into the town. Uncontrolled, these substances may pose a serious threat to public health and safety.

Transportation/Rail

Wolfville has a rail line that passes through town between the Minas Basin (Harbour area) and Main Street. An average of 4 trips are made through town on a daily basis. The town has three level crossings. The crossings at Elm Avenue and Gaspereau Extension require the train to travel at a speed not greater than 10 mph. The third level crossing, at Cherry Lane, requires the train to travel at a speed not greater than 30 mph. At present there are very few shipments of hazardous materials through town. However, the rail line should be monitored because continuous upgrades mean there is a greater potential for use, and thus a greater chance that dangerous goods will be transported.

Transportation/Water

A spill in the Minas Basin from a marine disaster could wash into the Wolfville Harbour and area creating an environmental problem. Dangerous Cargo (i.e. Hazardous Goods) on a ship in distress, such as on fire, could threaten the town with a toxic cloud since the prevailing winds generally blow into town from this direction. Fortunately, we are not on the world's major shipping lanes, therefore the chance of this event is slight.

Transportation/Air

The Town of Wolfville lies under the flight path of many aircraft landing at Halifax International Airport. Canadian Forces Base, Greenwood, often has aircraft in the skies above of Wolfville. Small aircraft from the Annapolis Valley Municipal Airport often sightsee over this area. Crop dusters spray our orchards and crops. Although aircraft disasters are infrequent, the crash of the Airforce jet near Falmouth, N.S. (1994) and the recent tragedy of Swissair Flight 111 near Peggy's Cove (Sept. 1998) demonstrate the potential for this type of disaster.

Power Failure

There are many situations that might result in the a cessation of power, including an act of terrorism. However severe winds or a winter ice storm are more likely causes. Power outages can last several days or even weeks. In cold weather this would cause considerable hardship to the community.

Epidemic

With the weakening effects of antibiotics on bacteria, and the ease with which disease can be carried throughout the world by air travel, the potential for an epidemic increases daily. The near release of Ebola-Zaire into the environment at Reston, Virginia, in 1989 shows how vulnerable we really are; this virus was transmitted as an airborne agent, similar to the Influenza Epidemic of 1918-19 (20 million deaths), or Asian Flu of 1968-69. Fortunately, the Reston Strain only affected monkeys. Even more recently (Summer 1995), the Ebola Virus in Zaire caused public health concern world-wide.