"OPEN" and "CLOSED" Annapolis County Comfort Centres

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO COMFORT CENTRES OPEN IN ANNAPOLIS COUNTY
(A reminder - Nova Scotians are encouraged to be ready to cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency.)
Thank you,
Annapolis REMO

Find the Comfort Centres and overnight Emergency Shelter near you, please review the list below or view the Google Map locations. The closest Comfort Centre may not be open when you need it as they are staffed by volunteers and resources may be used elsewhere. Know the locations of nearby comfort centres and add the facilities and addresses to your emergency kit.

Comfort Centres are managed and staffed by the local facility. During an emergency, REMO asks Comfort Centres to advise of their opening and closing times so the chart can be updated with accurate information and shared with residents.

For assistance about Comfort Centres, please call REMO at (902) 532-0258, or if there is an imminent emergency, please dial 9-1-1.

COMMUNITY	FACILITY NAME	FACILITY ADDRESS	FACILITY PHONE #	COMFORT CENTRE/SHELTER	STATUS OPEN/CLOSED
Maitland Bridge	Maitland Bridge Community Hall	701 Hwy #8, Maitland Bridge	none	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Bear River	Bear River Volunteer Fire Dept.	1277 River Road, Bear River	902-467-3633	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Cornwallis Park	Felker Hall Community Centre	734 Broadway Ave., Cornwallis Park	902-638-8010	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Upper Clements	Upper Clements Community Hall	2951 Route 1, Upper Clements	none	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Annapolis Royal	Annapolis Royal Volunteer Fire Dept.	5 St. Anthony St., Annapolis Royal	902-532-5833	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Annapolis Royal	Port Royal Legion Branch #21	66 Victoria St., Annapolis Royal	902-532-5196	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Annapolis Royal	Annapolis Royal Community HUB	578 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal	none	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Bridgetown	Bridgetown Volunteer Fire Dept.	31 Bay Rd., Bridgetown	902-665-4505	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Paradise	Paradise Community Hall	10300, Hwy 1, Paradise	none	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Port Lorne	Port Lorne Volunteer Fire Dept.	532 Port Lorne Road, Port Lorne	902-584-2025	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Lawrencetown	Lawrencetown Volunteer Fire Dept.	549 Main Street, Lawrencetown	902-584-3444	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Middleton	Middleton Baptist Church	111 Commercial Street, MIddleton	902-825-3537	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Middleton	Middleton Volunteer Fire Dept.	49 Church Street, Middleton	902-825-3246	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Middleton	NSCC Annapolis Campus	295 Commercial Street, Middleton	902-825-3491	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Nictaux	Nictaux Volunteer Fire Dept.	9349 Hwy 10, Nictaux	902-825-2552	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Port George	Port George Regional Recreation Centre	12256 Shore Rd E, Port George	902-825-4264	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Margaretsville	Margaretsville Volunteer Fire Dept.	2768, Hwy 362, Margaretsville	902-825-3839	Comfort Centre	CLOSED
Springfield	Springfield Volunteer Fire Dept.	986, Hwy 10, Springfield	902-547-2888	Comfort Centre	CLOSED

What is a Comfort Centre?

During disasters and emergencies, the standard for residents to be prepared to provide for themselves is at least 72 Hours. However, there may be times due to time and current circumstances before the 72 Hour period has passed; for example, a long power outage along with extreme winter temperatures. In these circumstances decisions may be made to open a “Comfort Centre(s)”. A “Comfort Centre” is sometimes also referred to as a “Warming Centre”.

We live in rural Nova Scotia, which means we can rely on our neighbours. It also means some of us are isolated and may have to be self-sufficient for an extended period if an emergency strikes. Preparing for 72 hours is a way that you can assure self-sufficiency when you need it most. How does one prepare for three days? Please visit the following link for tips/ideas on 72 Hour preparedness: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/

What is a Comfort Centre?

A comfort centre is a community hall or fire hall that is opened in a time of need to provide a location where community members can gather for a short period of time during the day.

In Nova Scotia neighbors help neighbors. When the need arises, these centres are opened by the operators of the facility. Community members take the lead on organizing and operating the Comfort Centre. These centres are operated by the community for the community.

Each comfort centre may have varied times that they will be open and closed to the public. Comfort Centres are independently operated by volunteers, which means they could open within hours of an emergency or after 72 hours. The call is entirely theirs. If crisis continues, and depending on what type it is, the Municipality might declare a Local State of Emergency where an Emergency Coordination Centre is activated, and agencies like the Red Cross are deployed. At this stage, shelters might be considered for possible overnight accommodations for residents affected by the crisis.

What does a Comfort Centre provide?

Comfort Centres may provide different services depending on resources available. However, all comfort centres are intended to provide a place to:

• place to get warm
• re-charge devices
• use washroom
• get a warm drink
• check on each other, and share information
• get updates on weather and power resumption

 
Some centres may provide:

• Light snacks and/or food prepared by volunteers
• A space for community members to prepare their own food

 

What does a Comfort Centre NOT provide?

A comfort centre is NOT an overnight shelter. 

 

What is required to make a good Comfort Centre?

• a good size pool of active volunteers
• active volunteers with the food handling safety course
• water supply shall be registered with the Dept. of Environment if on a non-municipal well system. It must be tested regularly (records kept)
• back-up power supply and tested regularly
• septic system serviced regularly
• some volunteers trained in first aid/cpr
• availability in shoulder seasons for hurricanes and winter storms by having supplies on hand (fuel for generator, important information, etc.)
• protocols for opening the comfort centre to ensure safety of volunteers and the public (e.g. road conditions are considered)
• Accessibility for all

Note: Comfort Centres are not maintained and operated by the Municipality of the County of Annapolis or the Towns of Annapolis Royal and Middleton. You should contact your local community hall and/or fire hall ahead of a storm to see their intentions of opening for an expected storm. The decision to open and close a Comfort Centre is at the discretion of the Community Hall or Fire Hall volunteer group/board as they operate and maintain these buildings.

Are you interested in becoming a comfort centre/community hall volunteer or fire department volunteer?
Dating back for centuries, citizens of the communities of Annapolis County volunteered their, time, skills and resources to establish community hall and fire halls.

Today, these Community Halls and Fire Halls continue to be solely operated by volunteer committees and their teams of dedicated and hardworking volunteers. Volunteers are needed so that Community Halls and Fire Halls can continue to offer various programs, services and events.

New volunteers are always needed to assist with everyday duties, at events or to be a part of the Board. Whether you have a few hours or many hours to lend a hand, there’s likely some way in which a Community Halls and Fire Hall can use your assistance!

REASONS TO VOLUNTEER
Meet new people; make new friends; have fun; use your skills; your community needs you; take an active role in your community; make a difference; volunteer work looks great on a resume.

Annapolis REMO - Comfort Centre Policy

Annapolis REMO - Comfort Centre Guidelines

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Annapolis County Comfort Centre - facility webpages

Other info.

RESOURCES

Nova Scotia info. for Comfort Centre operators during COVID-19 (updated Jan 2022) - https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/safety-guidelines-for-events.pdf

COVID-19 tip sheets from CCOHS Canada https://www.ccohs.ca/images/products/pandemiccovid19/pdf/community-centres.pdf