ST. JOHN'S, NL, November
14, 2007 -- The Honourable Loyola Hearn,
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf
of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of
the Environment, today announced a contribution
of $35,000 to the Conservation Corps of
Newfoundland and Labrador for a Public Education
and Outreach Initiative on Water Conservation
and Source Contamination. This contribution
to support community action to protect our
environment comes from the EcoAction Community
Funding Program.
"Canadians are strong environmental
citizens and want to preserve and protect
their environment," said Minister Hearn.
"This Government is ensuring that Canadians
across the country have the opportunity
to become directly involved in taking concrete
action in their communities. Through EcoAction,
Canadians are making a difference -- to
the benefit of both their community and
the environment."
This year the Government is investing $60
million in communities across Canada through
our grants and contributions programs, a
29 per cent increase from last year. The
Public Education and Outreach Initiative
on Water Conservation and Source Contamination
is one of 52 projects that will benefit
from $1.79 million through the EcoAction
Community Funding Program. This investment
will assist locally-based, non-profit organizations
to take real action for cleaner air, reductions
in greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water,
and the protection of nature at the local
community level.
The Government of Canada encourages all
Canadians to become involved in EcoAction
projects in their community. The next submission
deadline for proposals to the EcoAction
program is February 1, 2008.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Post-Tropical Storm Noel Batters Eastern
Canada
A satellite image of the storm captures
Noel as it makes landfall in Eastern Canada.
Photo: © Environment Canada, 2007.
-- Click to enlarge.
The warnings were loud and clear. After
leaving a trail of death and destruction
in the Caribbean, first as a tropical depression
and then as a tropical storm, post-tropical
storm Noel was on its way and not to be
ignored. The Canadian Hurricane Centre issued
statements that Noel would be a large, powerful
and dangerous storm as it hit Eastern Canada.
The media, emergency organizations and residents
listened and took action.
With memories of Hurricane Juan - a storm
that cost millions in damages and claimed
four lives in the Halifax area in 2003 -
still fresh in their minds, Maritimers braced
themselves for the worst. As people prepared
their homes, yards, marinas and businesses,
the team at Environment Canada continued
to work intently to stay on top of the storm
and to get the latest information to citizens.
From weather service staff to computer services
people, it was all hands on deck to prepare
for the biggest storm of the season.
Teamwork…Synergy…Seamless Effort…
A fallen tree in the south end of Halifax
illustrates the strength of Noel. Photo:
© Environment Canada, 2007. -- Click
to enlarge.
"This was one of the best collective
team efforts I have been involved with,"
said Peter Bowyer, Program Supervisor at
the Canadian Hurricane Centre. "The
'machine' worked well, from the scientific
prediction models to the collaboration between
the Hurricane Centre and the other eastern
Canada weather centres, to working with
the media to warn the public, everything
worked."
The first hint of Noel becoming a storm
for Eastern Canada was communicated by the
Canadian Hurricane Centre on Wednesday,
October 31. That forecast said that Noel
would reach Eastern Canada over the weekend.
The Hurricane Centre continued, as always,
to stay on top of forecasting the storm.
By Thursday evening at 9:00 pm Noel had
become a hurricane and it was very clear
that it would affect Canada significantly.
On Friday morning the Canadian Hurricane
Centre said that Noel would be a dangerous
storm for Eastern Canada. A media briefing
was held Friday morning to make sure all
media had accurate up-to-date information
to convey to residents of Eastern Canada.
All of the players were contributing to
make sure Canadians had accurate and timely
information so they could be prepared. The
provincial Emergency Measures Organizations
participated in the Friday media briefing,
our American colleagues flying into the
storm provided data to the Canadian Hurricane
Centre from the centre of the storm, our
warning preparedness meteorologists were
on site responding to media and briefing
Emergency Measures Organization and, the
media was communicating timely and accurate
information. All involved were working together
seamlessly toward a common goal - protecting
public safety. "The overall coordination
was outstanding," says Bowyer.
Post-tropical Noel Packs a Punch
Post-tropical Noel was indeed a notable
storm. Wind gusts reached 180 km/hr at Wreckhouse
Newfoundland and 135 km/hr at McNabs Island
in Halifax Harbour. The heaviest rainfall
was reported as 130 mm at Smelt Brook in
Cape Breton, and 111 mm in central New Brunswick.
While the advance warnings allowed people
time to make extensive preparations that
helped to minimize the impact from the powerful
system, there was still widespread damage.
Power outages were reported at over 190,
000 residences in Eastern Canada, mostly
in Nova Scotia. Downed trees, smashed vehicles
and battered homes were reported across
the Halifax area. Powerful ocean waves cracked
and rippled roads and infrastructure along
the south shore of the province. The clean-up
throughout the region would be extensive.
While no one wants to face another storm
of this ilk anytime soon, accurate forecasting
combined with early and detailed warnings
and an effective public response, meant
that damages were at least minimized to
the greatest degree possible.
