Canadian Red Cross Fiona response continues, including Canada Games Centre shelter

The federal government is matching all donations to the organization’s Fiona response

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Groff

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The Canadian Red Cross’s massive response to help those affected by Fiona continues Monday.

“This is one of the first times I can think of that I can think of where a single event, this hurricane, has actually affected five provinces, so we have operations underway at all five,” said the organizations communications director for the Atlantic region, Dan Bedell.

Here in Halifax, the Red Cross is supporting the ongoing shelter at the Canada Games Centre.

The Clayton Park recreation facility has been transformed into a spot for people who have been displaced due to damage to their homes and property.

“Saturday night into Sunday there were about 100 people that actually spent the night there,” Bedell told CityNews Halifax. “There are many more that stopped by to recharge their phone, maybe get a coffee, or warm up and get the latest information.”

That wasn’t the only shelter set up in HRM, but he said some of the smaller ones have since shut down due to a lack of demand.

However, those who still need the service are facing a lot of stress and frustration.

“They’re in a setting they don’t want to be in, there’s uncertainty when they might get power back,” he explained. “In some cases where property has been damaged, you’re trying to get a hold of insurance if that’s even applicable, looking at other arrangements and salvaging what you can.”

“Throw on top of that, not having power, not having reliable cell service that seems to be up and down depending on where you are and the time of day.”

The Red Cross has similar emergency shelters set up throughout Atlantic Canada, including in Sydney and hard-hit Port aux Basques, Newfoundland.

“It’s a small community and more than 35 homes were damaged. Some of them were just picked up and dropped again on the shore, smashed to pieces, several were washed away. There was at least one fatality there,” Bedell said.

The Canadian Red Cross has launched an appeal for donations to help out those who where were most affected by the storm and can’t get coverage through insurance or government assistance.

Donations can be made online or by calling 1-800-418-1111. People can also text the word FIONA to 20222, which will add $10 to the fund.

The federal government is matching all donations for the next month.