Red Cross Assists Four Edmonton Families Affected by House Explosion
Volunteers on standby in Southern Alberta in case of more flooding
(Edmonton) June 21, 2010: Responding to the scene of a house explosion in Edmonton yesterday, seven Canadian Red Cross Disaster Response volunteers provided emergency food, water, clothing, blankets and accommodation to four families consisting of seven adults and three children.
And members of this Personal Disaster Assistance Team returned to the site this afternoon in the Emergency Response Vehicle to provide additional assistance to anyone affected by the explosion.
Volunteers were called out Sunday when an afternoon explosion in northeast Edmonton destroyed two houses and seriously damaged at least nine other homes.
In a second incident yesterday, volunteers responded to a call to a south Edmonton home after a basement fire forced residents out. In that incident, Red Cross volunteers provided food, clothing, shelter and hygiene kits to five adults left temporarily homeless as a result of the blaze.
Meanwhile, Canadian Red Cross remains on standby in case of more flooding, while at the same time looking to help those already beginning to clean up the mess left behind after this week’s massive deluge across Southern Alberta.
More than 100 flood clean up kits are enroute to the flood stricken region. Red Cross volunteers also remain on standby in Medicine Hat in the event that today’s precipitation results in additional flooding.
So far, more than two dozen volunteers have put in more than 370 hours providing aid across the region, including registration and inquiry services as part of the City of Medicine Hat’s disaster response plan. The City remains the lead in this response. Meanwhile, Red Cross moves from Disaster Response to Disaster Recovery mode, residents requiring additional services or seeking information should contact the City’s flood line at 403-502-8900.
Red Cross is already ready to resume responding in other Southern Alberta communities, including Lethbridge, as rains continue to fall.
Each year Canadian Red Cross Disaster Response team assists hundreds of adults and children facing crisis situations within Alberta. Red Cross provides food, shelter, accommodation and additional services for 72 hours to individuals affected by personal disaster.
All Canadian Red Cross support is provided at no charge to those in need. To donate to this locally funded program please visit your local Red Cross office, call 1-800-418-1111 or go online to www.redcross.ca.
For information relating to the Edmonton responses, please contact:
Nancy Beasley Hosker
Canadian Red Cross – Alberta
Provincial Manager
Communications and Strategic Relations
Edmonton
Phone: 780-702-4159 Cell: 780-264-6275 Fax: 780-428-7092
nancy.beasleyhosker@redcross.ca
For information relating to the Southern Alberta Flood Response, please contact:
Leila Daoud
Canadian Red Cross - Alberta
Public Affairs Coordinator
Phone: 780-504-4535 Fax: 780-428-7092
