Evacuees in Cold Lake asked to Check in at FCSS

Any Fort McMurray evacuees who have self-evacuated to Cold Lake are asked to check in at the FCSS.  Although, the FCSS is not a designated reception centre, volunteers are acting as facilitators to help get people what they need, Cold Lake Fire Rescue Chief, Jeff Fallow, explains.

“If you’re from Fort McMurray, and you’re in the area, if you can contact FCSS or stop in at their checkpoint. What we’re trying to do is facilitate and make sure they’ve checked in with the Red Cross, so that the Red Cross knows that they are here and they can get looked after.” Fallow says a team of volunteers is on hand to help hand out any supplies needed by the evacuees, “people have been stepping up big time in our community; so, we are trying to put people with things, together with people who need things.” Fallow says many restaurants and businesses have offered free meals or discounts to evacuees. The best way to get a list of these is to contact the FCSS.

“We’ve always been ready to do whatever is required and offered whatever capacity of services we can. The number of available housing is out there, with the Province, so if they decide they want to activate, they can,” Fallow states the Province is operating the emergency and it is the Province who designated which municipalities will act as evacuation centres. “As this gets bigger, they will bring in the municipalities, they want to help out, at that point.”

Important to note that evacuees will receive money in the form of a special debit card from Red Cross and need to be registered so the Province knows where to distribute the money.  The FCSS is located at 5220 54th street, or by calling 780-594-4495. The public can also contact the FCSS to see what donations are needed at this time.