First Nations and Canadian Red Cross collaborating to ensure more than 5,700 evacuees receive emergency services
October 16, 2019
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
(WINNIPEG, Oct. 15, 2019) – First Nation Chiefs and Councils, the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC), the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), the Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO), Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Regional Chief Hart, and the Canadian Red Cross are working together to ensure all of the individuals evacuated from up to 13 First Nations in Manitoba, due to the recent power outage and State of Emergency, are receiving the assistance they require.
As of 9 a.m. today, the Canadian Red Cross team had registered more than 5,700 individuals who were evacuated from their home communities due to the power outage that was a result of last week’s major snowstorm. Some of these communities have been without power for 96 hours (four days) or more. Both the leadership of the IRTC and the Province of Manitoba have declared a State of Emergency due to the hydro outages and limited road access.
About 120 evacuees stayed overnight at the RBC Convention Centre shelter while the remainder were lodged in hotels or in private accommodations in Winnipeg and throughout southern Manitoba, including Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Dauphin, and Brandon. The RBC Convention Centre warming shelter can accommodate about 1,000 people with temporary cots and meals.
