News Release

HRM Willing to Lend Assistance to Hurricane-Torn States

(Thursday, September 1/05)-- Mayor Peter Kelly said today Halifax Regional Municipality would be willing to participate in any provincial or national effort to provide emergency relief or assistance to residents of the hurricane ravaged southern United States.

Mayor Kelly said that offer has been conveyed to Premier John Hamm and Honourable Ernie Fage, Minister Responsible for the Nova Scotia Emergency Measures Organization, as well as to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

“We wanted to let the Premier and Minister Fage know that HRM will be there if asked to participate in any effort by the province to lend assistance to those states devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We have made the same offer to the FCM in the event Canadian municipalities are asked to respond to the emergency relief effort,” he said. “Although nowhere near the strength of Hurricane Katrina, residents of HRM witnessed the force of Hurricane Juan in 2003 and are well aware of the damage and destruction that can be left behind.”

Mayor Kelly urged residents interested in assisting in the relief effort to contact the Canadian Red Cross.

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Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010