Emergency reception centre likely to shut down Sept. 6 or sooner

Aug 22, 2017 | 5:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — With more evacuation orders being rescinded and displaced residents returning home, the emergency reception centre is slowing to a halt.

Skeetchestn Indian Band members and other residents along the Deadman-Vidette Road were allowed to go home on Monday, many who were staying at the Sandman Centre.

Both inside and outside the Sandman Centre is calm and placid with the number of people declining by the day. 

“Due to recent changes to evacuation orders, we’ve actually had everyone in group lodging be able to return home, which is fantastic news for residents,” said TNRD information officer Megan Gregory. “Right now, group lodging is closed, though the reception centre and emergency social services are still available from 10-1 every day.”

There are currently 472 evacuees registered with the TNRD, most staying with family, friends or at hotels. 

It’s a stark contrast to a few weeks ago when thousands of evacuees from Williams Lake and 100 Mile House used Kamloops as refuge from wildfire. 

In total, 10,382 people have registered over the last month and a half. While Skeetchestn and Deadman-Vidette Road residents are among the last to go, help is still available.

“The services are still in place. We are still here. The group lodging is closed because there aren’t people currently staying here,” said Gregory. “So we are working on cleaning and just preparing in case we need to use it again.”

The only sign of activity outside is at Four Paws Food Bank, which still has a tent up and kennels ready to go. But even they are slowing down. 

“We’re wrapping up our work on site. We’re hoping to be off site by the end of the week, although we’re still here daily, making sure we’re giving out food and connecting people with services if they require them,” said Connie McBride from Four Paws.

It’s a nice break for people on the front lines that have worked day and night to take care of 1,200 animals since welcoming evacuees on July 7. 

“We definitely gave out more food and supplies than I ever have in 20 years of doing this work. Easily, we went through $200,000 worth of donated supplies that we sent back into the community,” said McBride.

That doesn’t include the $10,000 that Four Paws spent paying for vet visits, which were paid by $30,000 of generous community donations the last month and a half. 

Meantime, the TNRD says if the Elephant Hill wildfire remains stable, the reception centre will shut down September 6, or even sooner, and the keys to the Sandman Centre will be returned to the city.

“At this point, we’re pre-planning beyond to see. It reall depends on the fire,” said Gregory.