Recovery and rebuilding after Hurricane Fiona
The Canadian Red Cross today announced funding to the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques to assist with the purchase of buildings for low-cost housing for seniors who lost their homes as a result of the tropical storm caused by Hurricane Fiona.
The storm made landfall in September 2022, hitting five provinces with severe flooding and wind damage to infrastructure. Structures in the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques were significantly damaged, with 80 homes destroyed and many people, mostly seniors, suffering extensive impacts. Many homes in the area cannot be rebuilt in the same locations due to the flood risk, and residents of the town prefer to remain in the community.
The Canadian Red Cross has been working closely with the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques to determine how best to support people who lost their homes due to Hurricane Fiona. In an effort to secure longer-term housing for people in the community, the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques has identified two properties that will be retrofitted to provide 12 units for seniors. Thanks to the generosity of donors, and the support of the provincial and federal governments, the Red Cross is providing $936,000 to the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques to purchase the buildings. The Town is working with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) who will cover the costs of retrofitting the two buildings.
“There are a lot of needs in town but one of the biggest needs is trying to find accommodations,” said Brian Button, mayor of the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques. “This is welcome news to people who lost their homes, many of them seniors who don’t want to rebuild however, want to stay in our community.”
“The Canadian Red Cross is honoured to support the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques as they continue to rebuild from the storm damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Fiona,” said Conrad Sauvé, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. “Recovering from a major disaster can take time, and the Red Cross is committed to working collaboratively with communities following emergencies and disasters to support their recovery as needs are identified and at the pace in which they are ready.”
For photos of today’s announcement, please go
here.
For more information on how the Red Cross helped in Atlantic Canada, please go
here.
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Photos
Red Cross donor inquiries:
WeCare@redcross.ca or
1-800-418-1111
About the Canadian Red Cross
Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.
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French Media Line:
1-888-418-9111