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    2021 British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather

    Floods washed away road

    Photo: BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

    Red Cross assisting people through personalized recovery support
    Accommodation Support
    Housing Repair and Reconstruction Support
    Visit us in person
    Support to Rental Property Program
    Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program
    Additional ways the Canadian Red Cross is helping
    Donate to the British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather Appeal
    For additional resources
    We want to hear from you
     

    Red Cross continues to assist people through personalized recovery support

    The Canadian Red Cross is offering personalized recovery support to people impacted by the flooding and extreme weather event in British Columbia that took place on November 14, 2021. The Red Cross case management teams will work directly with people to discuss their unique needs and help them navigate their recovery journey and access available supports. This may include support for planning their return home, understanding insurance and community resources, providing financial assistance to access mental health services, as well as providing referrals and information to help people make decisions and inform their next steps.
     
    If you have been impacted by the 2021 November flooding and extreme weather event, and would like to inquire about eligibility for these support services, please reach out to the Red Cross to meet with a Case Manager. If you are unable to visit our teams in-person, or prefer to meet over the phone, please connect with the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PST, or email bcfloodrecovery@redcross.ca. A private and confidential appointment will then be arranged with your family representative. Appointments may take place in-person, over the phone or virtually.
     

    Accommodation Support

    The Red Cross is working with households who are unable to return home to their primary residence after the flooding to provide them access to short-term housing supports and support their transition to longer-term temporary housing. For eligible households that are unable to return to their home and have found temporary  housing, the Red Cross is providing financial contribution towards the cost of accommodation and basic needs.

    Please contact the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PST to request an appointment with a Case Manager if you have been impacted by the 2021 B.C. floods and extreme weather event and would like to inquire about eligibility for accommodation and basic needs supports.
     

    Housing Repair and Reconstruction Support

    The Red Cross is working with homeowners whose primary residence has been damaged from the November 2021 flooding and extreme weather event through housing repair and reconstruction support. In addition to the personalized recovery supports to plan for and navigate recovery, eligible homeowners may receive financial support to help meet their immediate needs, clean up their property and/or assist with expenses related to the repair or rebuilding of their home, or relocation. 

    If you have been impacted by the 2021 November flooding and extreme weather event, and would like to inquire about eligibility for these support services, please reach out to the Red Cross to meet with a Case Manager. If you are unable to visit our teams in-person, or prefer to meet over the phone, please connect with the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PST, or email bcfloodrecovery@redcross.ca. A private and confidential appointment will then be arranged with your family representative. Appointments may take place in-person, over the phone or virtually.


    Visit the Red Cross case management team in person.
     
    2023 Locations and Hours

    Abbotsford Medical Centre located at 2151 McCallum Rd #500 in Abbotsford
    • Open Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Closed Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays & the following dates:
      • March 3, 6, 17, 20 & 31
      • April 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 28
      • May 1, 12, 22
      • June 2, 5, 16, 19, 30
    Merritt Support Centre at 1700 Garcia St #102 in Merritt
    • Open Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Closed Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays & the following dates: 
      • March 3, 6, 17, 20 & 31
      • April 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 28
      • May 1, 12, 22
      • June 2, 5, 16, 19, 30
    Princeton Resiliency Centre located at 224 Bridge St. in Princeton  
    • Open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Closed Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays & the following dates: 
      • March 3, 6, 17, 20 & 31
      • April 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 28
      • May 1, 12, 22
      • June 2, 5, 16, 19, 30
    People who were impacted by the floods and extreme weather can also register with the Canadian Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582, Monday to Friday (Closed Statutory Holidays) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST.
     

    Support to Rental Property Program

    The Canadian Red Cross is offering financial assistance through the Red Cross Support to Rental Property Program to help small landlords impacted by the November 2021 flooding and extreme weather event in British Columbia. Eligible participants must have either a secondary suite (rental property that is part of their primary residence) and/or up to two rental properties in the impacted area.  

    For more information about eligibility requirements and the application process, please visit www.redcross.ca/rentalproperty.

    To learn about this program, you may also email us at BCSmallBizSupport@redcross.ca or call 1-833-966-4225 from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. PST.
     

    Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program

    The Canadian Red Cross recognizes support to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations is essential to the recovery of people and communities impacted by the 2021 BC flooding and extreme weather events.
     
    The Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program ran from July 14, 2022 to November 30, 2022. The program is no longer accepting applications.  
     

    Additional ways the Canadian Red Cross is helping

    The Canadian Red Cross continues to work closely with community leadership and all levels of government on how to best support people who have been impacted by the 2021 flooding and extreme weather in British Columbia.

    Donor Updates 

    Donations have enabled the Red Cross to carry out immediate and ongoing relief efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency, and risk reduction activities in and beyond the region at the individual and community levels.
     
    severe flooding on a streetPhoto: BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

    Additional Resources

    Emergency Preparedness
    For further tips and advice on what to do before, during and after floods, visit https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/emergencies-and-disasters-in-canada/types-of-emergencies/floods.
     
    The Canadian Red Cross blog is another useful resource, including articles like this about the current B.C. floods.

    Wellbeing and Coping with Crisis
    Following an emergency or disaster, a person may experience a range of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that can be intense, confusing, and frightening. These experiences trigger responses that can include physical, emotional, and behavioural reactions.

    There are many resources to help you, your family, and your community. Learn more about Coping with Crisis, including ways that you can care for yourself and your loved ones during an emergency. View the Canadian Red Cross' Moving Through Recovery: Guide for the Holidays.

    If you are concerned for the immediate safety or yourself or someone else, call a local crisis support line or 911 right away. Key local crisis lines are listed below and specialised crisis lines are services can also be found here.
    • ​1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433): for individuals who are or know someone who is having thoughts of suicide. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and in up to 140 languages. Operated in partnership with Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C.
    • 310-Mental Health (310-6789 - no need to dial an area code):for individuals who would like emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health in British Columbia. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is toll-free anywhere in British Columbia (no need to dial an area code).
    • Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868 or text 686868): Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 national service offering professional counselling, information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support for young people in English and French. Now, Indigenous people can connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder, when available, by messaging FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to 686868 for young people and 741741 for adults or through Facebook.

    We want to hear from you

    The mission of the Canadian Red Cross is to help those in times of need. We are always trying to improve our systems, processes, and programs to better serve you. We encourage you to provide feedback on your experience or interactions with us.  If you would like to share any feedback or have questions, please email us at CRCfeedback4@redcross.ca.
     
    If you would like a response to your email, please ensure to include your full name, address, current phone number and as much detail and specifics as possible. These details will help us to better respond to your email.

    Your feedback is important to us. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, we will respond to your email as soon as possible. For journalists and media outlets, please find a listing of all media contacts here.