By Melissa Smalley
BC wildfire evacuees who are relying on benefits from Evacuation Social Services (ESS) will see that support extended until at least July 20, according to ESS director Liz Jones.
Jones says that benefits for evacuees will be extended until at least Thursday, however, those displaced from their homes will need to re-register at one of the many evacuation centres around the province.
Benefits available to wildfire evacuees 香蕉视频直播� the number of which is estimated to be 37,000 across the province following yesterday香蕉视频直播檚 evacuation order in Williams Lake 香蕉视频直播� include accommodation, food and clothing vouchers.
香蕉视频直播淚f they can香蕉视频直播檛 afford to put themselves up somewhere or they don香蕉视频直播檛 have anyone in the area they can stay with, they will be offered group lodging or billeting,香蕉视频直播� Jones says, noting most hotels are full. 香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 ever give out cash, but we do have some food vouchers, and if you left in a hurry and don香蕉视频直播檛 have clothes, you can get a clothing voucher as well.香蕉视频直播�
Jones confirms that residents who have left their homes voluntarily are not eligible for benefits unless they have a proven medical reason to have evacuated without an order to do so.
She also encourages everyone who has been placed under evacuation order to register with the Red Cross if they haven香蕉视频直播檛 done so already; registration can be done by phone at 1-800-863-6582 or online at www.epactnetwork.com/en/signup/redcross
While Jones notes that locally there has been a certain amount of frustration from evacuees, who are finding it challenging to access information, she assures the community the ESS staff are doing the best they can given the circumstances.
The Kamloops evacuation centre 香蕉视频直播� located at the Sandman Centre 香蕉视频直播� will be looking for experienced volunteers to deal with the influx of displaced Williams Lake residents this weekend. A volunteer area is set up where those wanting to help can be put to work, Jones says.
Sunday morning, hundreds of evacuees 香蕉视频直播� many of them seniors 香蕉视频直播� could be seen lined up outside of the Sandman Centre, while hundreds of pets were also outside the arena.
