50 Shelterboxes sent to BC
Posted by Craig Clarke
With in excess of 1200 wildfires in British Columbia this year and still over 600 burning as of today, ShelterBox has sent 50 ShelterBoxes to provide emergency shelter wherever needed in BC. Up to 500 people will be accommodated immediately in times of a disaster.
"These boxes will be stored in our new emergency trailer for ongoing use wherever needed in Western Canada," according to Executive Director Don Ohlgren. "They are at the service of any community that needs them, all they have to do is to contact their local Rotary Club who will make the connection to ShelterBox Canada and get things rolling."
"These boxes will be stored in our new emergency trailer for ongoing use wherever needed in Western Canada," according to Executive Director Don Ohlgren. "They are at the service of any community that needs them, all they have to do is to contact their local Rotary Club who will make the connection to ShelterBox Canada and get things rolling."
With thousands out of their homes currently due to the wildfires we are capable of providing emergency shelter almost immediately for 500 folks."
"We envision two scenarios", says Ohlgren. "With an immediate evacuation we would provide up to 50 shelters, probably on a school yard or a public building with facilities inside. These would be deployed at no charge and retrieved when the evacuation cleared up."
"The second scenario is, if we lost homes in an area, ShelterBox would issue kits to provide shelter while people rearranged their lives and got resettled."
"We also have two fully trained 'ShelterBox Response Team' members stationed in BC who can deploy with the trailer immediately. These SRT'S, with the assistance of local Rotarians and emergency services can have a small village up and running overnight."
ShelterBox Canada and Rotary provide this service at no cost through the ongoing generous donations of Rotary Clubs, Rotarians and other supporting clubs, groups and individuals. Over 50,000 ShelterBoxes have been deployed in this manner worldwide over the past ten years.
Each kit contains a ten person tent, sleeping provisions for ten people, stove and kitchen paraphernalia, a tool kit, water filter kit and water containers, children's activity kit and other essentials. The purpose of the boxes is to provide emergency accommodation, (Shelter - Comfort - Warmth & Dignity) for a family of up to ten for up to 6 months in times of disaster.
"Should we experience a major catastrophe we could receive more boxes within days" adds Ohlgren. "This is a first deployment to Canada, similar to when the boxes were used in the Australian fires earlier this year. We can deploy hundreds in days direct from our warehouse in England where all boxes are packed."
Our Rotary Club has purchased 12 boxes over the past few years; they have been distributed to Pakistan, Somalia, Uganda,Kenya and the Congo. Our most recent box has not yet been sent.
"We envision two scenarios", says Ohlgren. "With an immediate evacuation we would provide up to 50 shelters, probably on a school yard or a public building with facilities inside. These would be deployed at no charge and retrieved when the evacuation cleared up."
"The second scenario is, if we lost homes in an area, ShelterBox would issue kits to provide shelter while people rearranged their lives and got resettled."
"We also have two fully trained 'ShelterBox Response Team' members stationed in BC who can deploy with the trailer immediately. These SRT'S, with the assistance of local Rotarians and emergency services can have a small village up and running overnight."
ShelterBox Canada and Rotary provide this service at no cost through the ongoing generous donations of Rotary Clubs, Rotarians and other supporting clubs, groups and individuals. Over 50,000 ShelterBoxes have been deployed in this manner worldwide over the past ten years.
Each kit contains a ten person tent, sleeping provisions for ten people, stove and kitchen paraphernalia, a tool kit, water filter kit and water containers, children's activity kit and other essentials. The purpose of the boxes is to provide emergency accommodation, (Shelter - Comfort - Warmth & Dignity) for a family of up to ten for up to 6 months in times of disaster.
"Should we experience a major catastrophe we could receive more boxes within days" adds Ohlgren. "This is a first deployment to Canada, similar to when the boxes were used in the Australian fires earlier this year. We can deploy hundreds in days direct from our warehouse in England where all boxes are packed."
Our Rotary Club has purchased 12 boxes over the past few years; they have been distributed to Pakistan, Somalia, Uganda,Kenya and the Congo. Our most recent box has not yet been sent.
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