Red Cross completes evacuation of Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi

With the last two flights arriving in Winnipeg today, the Canadian Red Cross confirms that the evacuation of Little Grand Rapids First Nation and Pauingassi First Nation residents is now done and all evacuees are out of the communities.
 
The Red Cross has been supporting the First Nations, which were being evacuated due to the close proximity to wildfires, since Tuesday. The final flight of residents and responders arrived at 12:15 this afternoon in Winnipeg. All evacuees are staying in hotels in Winnipeg.
 
In total, more than 820 residents of Little Grand Rapids were evacuated from the community. There were more than 330 residents from Pauingassi evacuated.
 
The vast majority of evacuees were out of the communities on Thursday night, however, stormy weather forced the flights to be halted around midnight, leaving 41 people – 18 evacuees from Pauingassi and 23 responders, including RCMP and Red Cross personnel – to stay the night in Little Grand Rapids. Evacuees from Pauingassi had been shuttled over to Little Grand Rapids on small float planes earlier to await larger planes to fly them to Winnipeg because there is no airstrip in Pauingassi.
 
“The Canadian Red Cross is very pleased that we have been able to complete what was a challenging, but ultimately successful evacuation,” said Shawn Feely, Canadian Red Cross vice-president, Manitoba and Nunavut. “We understand it was a very stressful experience for the residents of the two communities but we hope they will be able to relax a bit now that they are safely in Winnipeg.”
 
On top of what is happening with that response, there are more than 830 evacuees out of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, staying in hotels in The Pas, Swan River and Brandon, as wildfires continue to impact that community. The evacuation began in that community on Sunday.
 
This response is part of an agreement between the Canadian Red Cross and the federal government to provide disaster assistance to Manitoba First Nations.
 
Since Red Cross disaster assistance to First Nations is supported by the federal government, the expenses for the response are covered. Anyone wishing to make a donation to help the Red Cross assist with, or prepare for, disasters can go to www.redcross.ca or call 1-800-418-1111. The Red Cross does not accept donations of any items as it does not have the capacity and resources to handle and store goods. Anyone looking to donate goods for Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids evacuees can call the Southern Chiefs’ Organization at 204-946-1869.
 
The Canadian Red Cross has a team of trained volunteers who have the skills and resources to support evacuees in communities throughout Manitoba but more volunteers are needed. Anyone who wants to volunteer to help with future disasters can go to www.redcross.ca.
 
For more information please contact:
Canadian Red Cross Media Line
(204) 982-7301