Red Cross works with disaster services partners to alleviate hardship of Peterborough residents

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The Canadian Red Cross is responding to the needs of Peterborough residents after a state of emergency was called due to major flooding in the area. With the valuable help of disaster corporate partners The Home Depot and Wal-Mart Canada, the Red Cross is providing assistance to evacuated residents who are lodged in three emergency centres.

Each evacuation centre is staffed by 15 Red Cross volunteers who are joined by five volunteers from the local Home Depot store. Wal-Mart Canada has provided bottled water for the evacuees.  

It is estimated that more than 200 people have been forced to leave their homes due to the floods. This includes 134 residents of the Extendicare Nursing Home who were evacuated to the Evinrude Community Centre. Fleming College has opened its doors as a shelter to the members of the general public who were forced from their homes and a third centre was recently opened in Lakefield.

“We are working closely with the Municipality of Peterborough to respond to the basic needs of the people affected by the floods,” says David Webster, District Branch Manager, Canadian Red Cross. “The Home Depot and Wal-Mart Canada, our disaster corporate partners, have offered assistance. It is estimated that some 160 more people will be evacuated this evening and some evacuees will not be able to return to their homes for at least a week.”