Towns, municipalities and villages in Nova Scotia can now apply for a provincial program to help pay for stormwater system upgrades. According to a news release from the province, the Stormwater Transformation Optimization and Resilience for Municipalities (STORM) program opened for applications on Thursday. The one-time program offers up to $1.9 million for Nova Scotian communities to improve stormwater planning, understand flood risks, and strengthen local resilience. “Nova Scotia’s climate change plan recognizes that stronger stormwater management is essential to protecting communities from flooding and other climate impacts,” says Timothy Halman, minister of environment and climate change in the release. Early in September, heavy rainfall and flooding affected many areas of Cape Breton, with significant repair efforts still underway. More than 200 millimetres of rain fell on some areas, bringing more than a month’s worth of rain in just a few days. According to the province’s climate change plan, heavier precipitation patterns are one of the symptoms Nova Scotia is seeing. “If our greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase at current levels, Nova Scotia’s climate will continue to change,” reads the plan. “An average of 10 per cent more precipitation per year by the end of the century, with more rainfall and less snow. Higher intensity rain means increased risk of flooding.” The province’s climate change risk assessment says heavier rains and longer rainstorms lead to instances of inland flooding, which can destroy buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. It can also be a significant threat to public safety. “Nova Scotia’s current climate is different from the climate of the past,” states the assessment. “More rain is expected to fall in shorter periods of time. Warmer temperatures in the winter will mean less snow and more rain, with a slight increase in precipitation over the course of the year.” The assessment named Cape Breton in a list of six areas with the most need to adapt to climate change leading to the 2050s. Hants, Cumberland, Pictou, Colchester and Halifax are the others named. “Different factors contribute to risk. Some counties, like Cape Breton and Halifax, have more people and infrastructure exposed to climate hazards,” says the assessment, which was completed in 2025. The next provincial climate change risk assessment is set for 2030. “Municipalities have long identified stormwater management and flood resilience as important areas where additional capacity and resources are needed,” says David Mitchell, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities. “This program is a meaningful step towards a collective response to climate-related risks and strengthening long-term infrastructure planning,” he says about the government’s new program. “STORM will help municipalities better understand and manage their stormwater systems, reduce flood risks and inform planning to make sound infrastructure decisions that will protect communities for years to come,” says N.S. Minister of Municipal Affairs, John A. MacDonald. Applications for the province’s STORM program are open until Nov. 12. Towns and municipalities can apply individually or as partners. Solo applicants can receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs, and joint applications can receive up to 75 per cent. Some eligible stormwater management projects for the province’s STORM program include: For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
