Long waits for Red Cross registration are causing frustration for B.C. wildfire evacuees.
鈥淲e went in to the emergency centre in 100 mile before the evacuation and they said to go online and call,鈥� said 100 Mile House evacuee Jeremy Welch.
When Welch called, he was given an option to press 鈥�1鈥� and assured he would be called back. That took six hours.
鈥淭hey took our information and said it could take some time to process,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey told us if you don鈥檛 hear back to call again.鈥�
Welch didn鈥檛 hear back so he called, waiting on hold for nearly two hours until he managed to speak with someone.
鈥淚鈥檓 not only person in this situation,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he funds and manpower just aren鈥檛 there.鈥�
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B.C. and Yukon Red Cross vice-president Kimberley Nemrava said that they understand the evacuees frustration and are adding more resources by the day.
鈥淧eople can rest assured that we will make sure everyone has chance to be registered,鈥� Nemrava said. 鈥淲e have dramatically increased Red Cross phone lines.鈥�
The Red Cross is provided $600 cash to people displaced by the wildfires.
鈥淲e sent out the first wave of cash assistance yesterday,鈥� she said but cautions that they funds aren鈥檛 meant to be a cure all.
鈥淭his is not to replace emergency social services if people. This is just to replace cost they would incur when they are evacuating.鈥�
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Namrava didn鈥檛 have total registration numbers yet and noted that the Red Cross has to first validate that registrants are legitimate and then ensure the money has been delivered before they can tally up final numbers.
鈥淲e are asking people to be patient.鈥�
The Red Cross isn鈥檛 taking non-monetary donations, Namrava said, but encourages people to work with their communities to help out evacuees.
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鈥淚鈥檓 sure you can appreciate the logistical challenges of sorting, packing, transporting and distributing the goods. Money is the most flexible for agency and client,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t also contributes to local economies which have taken a hit.鈥�
Namrava said she鈥檚 been amazed by both the generosity of cash donations and efforts.
鈥淧eople are taking in livestock and putting evacuees up for a few days.鈥�
