Emergency alert for Grand Lake water issue startles Halifax residents
People living in Halifax were startled awake at 1:15 Thursday morning by the loud wailing tone of a provincial emergency alert coming from their cell phone.
"I thought there was a gunman on the loose at first, at 1:15 in the morning," says area resident Bryne McDonell.
But, it turns out the alert was warning of the problem with the water at Grand Lake, a large lake within the municipality.
"Halifax Regional Municipality is issuing a drinking water alert for Grand Lake, Halifax, Nova Scotia," it read. "All residents who have water feeds from Grand Lake are to cease using the water immediately."
Receiving the early morning alert meant McDonnell knew to keep his three-year-old Golden Doodle, Chelsea, out of the water on their daily walk in Oakfield Provincial Park, which borders the large body of water.
He's glad the alert was issued.
"It's worth it to keep everybody in the know, and safe," he says.
But for many residents, the alert led to some early morning questions, about whether their drinking water supply was safe.
"There was confusion this morning because of the text of the alert that went out," says District 15 Coun. Paul Russell.
"People saw that alert was coming in, and they weren't sure where their water was coming from, they knew it was related to Grand Lake," he adds.
He's glad the alert system was used, but the initial confusion kept him busy addressing constituents' concerns.
Officials with the city of Halifax and Halifax Water issued notices later Thursday morning, assuring residents their municipal water supply is not affected.
The decision to use the provincial emergency alert system was triggered after Halifax Regional Fire responded to a 911 call in the Oakfield area.
"Last night at approximately eight o'clock, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency responded to call to investigate an unknown substance that had washed up on the shore of Grand Lake," says the department's Deputy Chief of operations, Peter Andrews.
Andrews says the call came from a resident whose dogs died after coming into contact with the lake. That resident was also taken to hospital and has since been released.
After Halifax Fire crews arrived on the scene and began assessing the situation, the department contacted municipal emergency officials. They, in turn, contacted Nova Scotia EMO to request the Alert Ready message be sent.
"Given the severity of this particular hazard," says Andrews, "and the darkness coming on, we thought that the provincial system would give us the ability to reach more folks."
The city does have its own alert system – called hfxAlert – but Andrews says officials decided to use the provincial system because the province is the lead agency on water quality and environmental concerns.
In hindsight, Andrews says the wording of the alert could have been clearer.
"To clarify that it was really about if you were drawing and drinking water from the lake, and not actually impacting the domestic water supply."
District 1 Coun. Cathy Deagle-Gammon agrees sending an alert was the right move.
"It was a safety first," she says. "I absolutely respect the request of HRM staff to the province to use the emergency alert, I think it was the best decision at that moment."
Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office says it's the first time the Alert Ready system has been used for a water quality issue.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.