A comfort centre is a community hall or fire hall that is opened up 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 neighbours help neighbours. When the need arises, these centres are opened up 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. When a Kings Comfort Centre is activated, it will be announced via Municipal Websites, Social media, radio and television as a means by which to inform all residents of Kings County.
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:
- 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.
Comfort Centre Services:
- The capacity to accommodate up to 50 people
- Accessible washrooms
- Potable water
- Basic kitchen amenities for the storage and/or heating of food and beverages
- Heating for the primary accommodations area: place of assembly
- Kitchen, and washrooms
- Refrigeration for the storage of food and/or medical supplies
- Wheelchair access to the building
- Tables and chairs
Comfort Centres are primarily for residents able to remain in their own home but either (a) lack basic services such as electricity, heat, water etc, or (b) have special needs. Centres are open for a limited time (during the day) to provide basic hygiene amenities, access to basic supplies such as water or light meals, access to information, peer or professional support (e.g.. emotional support, referrals to government services).
Reception Centre/Emergency Shelter:
(The minimum standards as per a comfort centre but with the addition of the following):
- Emergency power back-up systems (i.e., generator hook-up capacity and the electrical system appropriate to the size of the facility)
- Kitchen amenities with the capacity for food preparation (i.e., cooking)
- Freezer and secure storage (i.e., locked room or cupboards) for food storage
- Dishwasher
- Security lockers (or equivalent such as a safe, safety box etc) for the safe storage of medical supplies
- Basic laundry amenities
- An elevator in buildings of more than one storey (if the second or additional floors are deemed to be part of the emergency centre)
- Exterior lighting
- Facility signage and civic address clearly visible
- Public parking
- Advanced first aid equipment and supplies
- Adaptive devices for persons with special needs (i.e., visually impaired, hearing impaired, wheelchair/ambulatory aids)
In an evacuation situation, residents can access a reception centre for immediate refuge and to assess their situation and make temporary plans. Provincial services might be deployed on-site to register and account for persons, assess immediate needs, and offer some basic services. Generally, the centre is not open overnight and does not provide sleeping accommodations.
When sufficient residents are displaced from their homes for an extended period and no other source of temporary housing can be confirmed, an evacuation centre may be established. The facility operates 24/7 and forms a temporary home for evacuees, therefore there are more amenities required related to washrooms, feeding, persons with special needs etc.