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Samantha F.
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa Regional Fair
Halifax Explosion
Assessment of the cause and the consequences of the Halifax Explosion. I looked at the catastrophic impact to Halifax and how we can apply key learning to the present - particularly around Emergency Preparedness. My poster is in French and the video is in English.
What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?
The most interesting thing I learned was the creation of the perfect storm after the two vessels collided. The explosion and creation of a 15 foot tsunami happened quickly. There was a large amount of fire and buildings in the vicinity collapsed. That evening there was a snowstorm that produced 40 cm of snow over the next several days and families left homeless by the explosion were left out in the elements to freeze.
What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?
It is necessary to have rules and regulations around the operation of vessels in Canadian harbours which are strictly enforced. This requires clear communication processes. Standardized Emergency response systems must be in place in all major cities with harbours ( and beyond) in order to ensure the safety of Canadian citizens.
How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?
Today we are more informed due to past mistakes and there is more of a focus on safety. There are Emergency Response systems in place with trained personnel in order to protect citizens which were not in place during the time of the Halifax Explosion. There are better developed communication systems for transfer of information.