A song of water and fire: Key lessons from Hurricane Fiona and Nova Scotia wildfires.

The article focuses on key lessons learned from the business continuity and emergency management responses to Hurricane Fiona (2022) and the 2023 wildfires in Nova Scotia, Canada. It details the challenges faced by provincial teams, including widespread telecommunications and power outages, logistical complexities, and mental health impacts on responders and communities. The Province of Nova Scotia's business continuity framework involves local incident commanders (LICs) and the Provincial Coordination Centre (PCC), emphasizing the importance of planning, training, senior leadership support, and strong interagency relationships. Critical lessons highlight the need for mental health support during prolonged incidents, reliance on diverse communication methods due to technology failures, adherence to incident command structures for effective coordination, and realistic exercises that account for resource limitations. The article underscores that evolving climate conditions are increasing the frequency and severity of such emergencies, necessitating continuous improvement in preparedness and response strategies.