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

A Halifax program to support vulnerable residents in emergencies is urging people to sign up, but some advocates say the municipality must do more to promote it.

It's been a year since the Halifax Regional Municipality launched its vulnerable person's registry, but only 200 people were on the list as of last week.

The free service is for anyone with mobility issues, vision, hearing, or cognitive impairment, or those who need electricity for vital equipment like oxygen or dialysis.

People can choose to be notified via landline, cellphone or email, and the municipality will contact them during emergencies such as lengthy power outages and severe storms.

Kimberley Richardson, who is quadriplegic and uses a power wheelchair, said she hadn't seen or heard much about the registry, but planned to sign up. She lives with her partner in East Preston and has home care come in, but there are times she's alone for a few hours.

"You just never know what is going to happen when, so it's good to have it in place," Richardson said.

"I think it would just relax a lot of people knowing that if something happens to them, somebody is going to check on you. You don't have to lay on the floor for the next 48 hours."

Those living in long-term care or supportive housing facilities are not eligible for the program.

Laura Brine, the municipality's emergency management administrator, handles the registry. She said notifications are sent out ahead of storms to encourage people to gather supplies. Another notification is sent out during an emergency to ask residents if they need help.

"I just want to make sure that people know they're not forgotten about or they're not left behind," Brine said.

Anyone who does need assistance will get a visit from ground search and rescue, Brine said. She said they are especially helpful in rural areas where there are fewer services.

She said the municipality activated the service about four times this year during events like winter storms.

"That resulted in us finding out that people couldn't get to their dialysis appointments, or something like that," Brine said. "Their caregivers couldn't get to them. And so we're able to try and facilitate getting their doors cleared, or just maybe they need some supplies."

If a resident on the registry hasn't responded at all, Brine said police will do a well-being check.

Bill VanGorder of the Nova Scotia chapter of CARP, which advocates for retired persons, said the registry is something the group pushed for, but many of its 6,000 members in the Halifax area aren't on it because HRM "haven't promoted it."

He also said CARP hasn't received any information about the program to share with members.

VanGorder said he's hopeful more people sign up because seniors will especially benefit. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted just how much of a mental-health issue isolation is for older people, he said.

"When seniors know that help would be available if they were alone, then they're much more likely to stay in their own home longer … and be more comfortable," said VanGorder.

Brine said the emergency management team has grown over the past year. It now has more staff to promote the registry.

People can visit the Halifax municipal website, or call 311, to find out if they're eligible for the service and sign up.