SP // SURGEPROTOCOL

Terms of Use — Public Map

Last updated: July 17, 2026 · applies to surgeprotocol.ca/map

The short version: this is a free public view that assembles official public data onto one map. It is not an alerting product, it can be wrong or out of date, and it must never be the reason you do or don't act in an emergency. Always follow instructions from Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office, the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and local officials.

1. What this is

The SurgeProtocol Public Map is an independent, personal project by Sam Whiteman that displays publicly available hazard and conditions data for Nova Scotia — wildfire reports, satellite heat detections, smoke and weather model output, air quality readings, and similar open sources — on a single map. It is operated as a public service and feasibility project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated on behalf of any government agency, employer, or the original data providers.

2. Not an alerting or emergency service

This site does not issue warnings, alerts, or instructions, and is not monitored around the clock. Official warnings and instructions come only from authorities such as NS Emergency Management Office, NS Natural Resources (wildfire), Environment and Climate Change Canada, 511 Nova Scotia, and your municipality. If there is any conflict between this site and an official source, the official source is right.

3. Accuracy, timeliness, and limits

All data shown belongs to its named sources and is relayed as received. It may be delayed, incomplete, approximate, or wrong. Specific limits are stated on the map beside each layer, and they matter — for example:

Satellite heat detections are ~375 m heat pixels from periodic satellite passes, not fire outlines, and can miss fires or lag hours behind events on the ground.
Coastal flood layers are planning scenarios — modelled "what-if" water levels — never current or forecast flooding.
Model layers (smoke, heat, wind, waves) are forecasts at model scale, not measurements at your location.
Incident locations from open feeds are approximate.

4. No warranty, limitation of liability

This site is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including accuracy, timeliness, availability, or fitness for a particular purpose. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the operator accepts no liability for any loss, damage, injury, or cost arising from use of, reliance on, or inability to use this site or its data. Your sole remedy for dissatisfaction is to stop using the site.

5. Data sources and credit

Data is reproduced from public sources under their open licences or accessed directly from the provider's public services, with credit: Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources; NASA FIRMS; Environment and Climate Change Canada (GeoMet/datamart products); Natural Resources Canada (CWFIS, terrain); Halifax Regional Municipality open data; Statistics Canada; NOAA; OpenStreetMap contributors; CARTO. Their data remains theirs, under their terms.

6. Privacy

The public map requires no account and sets no tracking cookies. Standard web server logs (IP address, page requested, time) are kept for security and capacity purposes on infrastructure in Canada-friendly jurisdictions, and are not sold or shared. Emails sent to the feedback address are used only to respond and improve the site.

7. Donations

If a donation option is offered, donations are voluntary gifts toward hosting and data costs. They do not purchase a service, subscription, warranty, or any obligation, and are not refundable or tax-receiptable.

8. Changes and contact

The site and these terms may change or go offline at any time without notice. Questions, corrections, and feedback: surgeprotocoldev@outlook.com.

These terms are governed by the laws of Nova Scotia and Canada.

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