Western Cape Breton REMO Statement of Appreciation

*Sharing on behalf of Inverness, Victoria, and Richmond Counties and the Town of Port Hawkesbury

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

The Western Cape Breton Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO) would like to thank the many partners who supported the team during the significant rainfall event that began September 4, 2026.

Widespread flooding resulted in road closures, power outages and disruptions to transportation networks. As a result, a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) was declared for the counties of Inverness, Victoria and Richmond on September 5.

With funding support from the Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management, Inverness, Victoria and Richmond Counties, and the Town of Port Hawkesbury, partnered to establish the Western Cape Breton Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO).

A REMO brings neighbouring municipalities together to coordinate emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery. It provides a structure for municipalities and emergency response agencies to work collaboratively when an incident extends beyond the capacity of a single community.

This was the first major event for the REMO and demonstrated the value of regional coordination. All four municipal partners worked together, alongside provincial partners and first responders, to support residents throughout the region.

The Western Cape Breton REMO extends its sincere appreciation to the Nova Scotia Departments of Emergency Management and Public Works for the significant support, guidance and coordination provided throughout the event.

Additional thanks go to the Town of Port Hawkesbury for opening the Civic Centre to serve as the emergency coordination centre. The facility provided a central location where representatives from each municipality, government partners and response agencies could work together to coordinate the emergency response.

We also extend our gratitude to the RCMP, EHS, Ground Search and Rescue, the Nova Scotia Guard, local volunteer fire departments, Canadian Red Cross, regional centres for education, Eastern District Planning Commission, Strait IT and Nova Scotia Health for their support throughout the response.

Finally, the REMO would like to thank the residents, community halls and groups across Inverness, Victoria and Richmond Counties and the Town of Port Hawkesbury who reached out to offer their assistance. Your willingness to help your neighbours and your communities during a challenging time is greatly appreciated.