Red Cross supporting Quebec forest fire operations
Montréal, May 28, 2010 — Since Wednesday night, Red Cross workers have been in the regions of Mauricie, Lanaudière and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean responding to forest fires that have forced the evacuation of thousands of people. As part of these operations, Red Cross workers have been responsible for welcoming and registering evacuees and attending to their basic needs. The Red Cross has also provided emergency supplies (beds, pillows, blankets, hygiene kits) in each of the centres that have been set up.
Responding in every corner of the province
In the Mauricie region, a shelter has been operational since Wednesday night at the Champagnat de La Tuque School. In total, approximately 1,300 people have been evacuated from the Wemotaci Reserve, nearly 1,000 have registered with the Red Cross to-date and more than 300 are living temporarily at the school.
Since Thursday the Red Cross has also helped relocate four families (10 people) from Parent (near La Tuque) to a motel in Mont-Laurier. Regional volunteers are still available to assist if other families need to be evacuated from their homes.
Three shelters have been open since Wednesday night for Manouane Reserve evacuees: the first in Joliette at the Marcel-Bonin arena and two others in the municipality of Saint-Charles-Borromée. To date, 1,080 people have been registered and more than 350 have used the shelter services at one of the centres. Once again, Red Cross workers are there to welcome, register and inform evacuees.
Finally, late Friday afternoon, Red Cross volunteers opened a shelter at the Château Roberval Hotel in Roberval so that the most vulnerable (pregnant women, children, people with health problems, etc.) could take refuge there. This evacuation is on a voluntary basis, and the people (approximately 150 people) who have gone there are from the Obedjiwan Amerindian reservation.
In all of these operations, the Red Cross is working closely with each of the cities and municipalities affected, as well as with the public safety authorities in Mauricie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Lanaudière.
About the Red Cross
Thanks to its Quebec‑wide network of trained emergency response volunteers, the Red Cross disaster team responds every nine hours, providing emergency assistance to thousands of people each year. The range of services provided by the organization includes emergency shelter, food and clothing.
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