The Canadian Red Cross and the Governments of Canada and Quebec send emergency assistance to the United States
Montreal, September 6, 2005 – At the request of the American Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross, in collaboration with the governments of Canada and Quebec, today sent a 20-truck convoy of emergency material intended for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Consisting of 20,000 cots and an equal number of blankets, the convoy left Montreal this afternoon for the City of San Antonio, Texas.
To date, the American Red Cross has housed some 142,000 survivors in more than 485 shelter centres, has already deployed 270 emergency vehicles to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama—others are en route to the disaster area—and has served more than seven million meals (hot meals and snacks) to victims since the hurricane struck.
In addition to emergency material, 37 volunteers from the Canadian Red Cross have been rushed to the scene in recent days and others will follow, based on needs. They are backing up more than 5,600 volunteers of the American Red Cross working to provide food aid and shelter services to tens of thousands of evacuees. “Thanks to the participation of the governments of Canada and Quebec and the support of Hydro-Quebec, which has coordinated the transportation of the emergency material with Robert Transport and SGT 2000, we are able to support this major effort of the American Red Cross,” indicated the General Manager of the Red Cross in Quebec, Conrad Sauvé.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to participate in this joint effort to assist our southern neighbours in need,” declared the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Anne McLellan. “The Government Operations Centre, in collaboration with the Canadian Border Services Agency, took immediate steps to facilitate the entry of this critical material into the United States. During this difficult period, we remain ready to respond to any other request that could be made, either in terms of human or material resources.”
“At the same time that civil protection is taking steps in Quebec to manage the impact of recent heavy rains, the Government of Quebec is pleased to contribute to the effort to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina,” stated Quebec’s Minister of Public Security, Jacques P. Dupuis.
People wishing to help can make cash donations by donating online, calling toll free 1-800-418-1111, or sending a cheque to the order of the Canadian Red Cross, marked “Hurricane Katrina in the United States,” to 6 place du Commerce, Verdun, Quebec H3E 1P4. In-kind donations will not be accepted.
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Stéphanie de Launière, Media Relations Officer
Canadian Red Cross, Quebec Division
Telephone: 1 800 363-7305, extension 2936
Cell: (514) 248-4509
Marie-Josée Duhamel
Media Relations Officer
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Telephone: (418) 643-2112
Alex Swann
Director of Communications
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Telephone: (613) 991-2863
