MN-S, Red Cross keep residents up to date with emergency preparedness

“If you know that there’s something about to happen in your area; is there gas in your car? Have you got a spare set of keys? Is there somebody outside of the area that you live in that you’re going to call and say, ‘where you are so you can then regroup?’ They’re simple things, but they’re very effective.”

The Red Cross was giving away some of those 72-hour emergency kits, which included items for First Aid, communication, food and water, among many other tools to help people survive.

These emergency kits were being given away during the event on Friday in Kinsmen Park. (Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

Colbi Kuppenbender, MN-S Administrative Climate Emergency Specialist, said the event comes on the heels of last year’s devastating wildfire season, which was the second worst on record, with the goal of making it known that it’s not just the Red Cross who’s there to lend a hand.

“Métis Nation–Saskatchewan has just started doing emergency management planning, this is pretty much our first year. Last year we kind of got thrown into it with all the evacuations where we hosted the Batoche evacuation site. We want people to know that Métis Nation can help people out there, not just Metis citizens. We’re hoping to help everyone if they’re in need; there’s more than just one place to go to.”

During the evacuations last year, Kuppenbender explained that their Batoche site cared for 150-200 people for roughly nine days. Other members of MN-S were in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina helping evacuees and providing counseling services, where they helped an additional 500-600 people.

“We heard lots from the communities that they felt really welcomed and that having Métis Nation there was really positive, they felt comfortable going to them and they hadn’t really felt that before. They were really healthy with the counseling services that were provided, so it was an overall positive experience. We already spoke with SPSA [about this year], and they said we’re welcome there to help out in any capacity that we can.”

Flooding has been the main concern so far this spring, with more than 600 people being evacuated from Red Earth Cree Nation. Many others from Shoal Lake Cree Nation and Sturgeon Lake First Nation have also been evacuated from their communities.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

MN-S, Red Cross keep residents up to date with emergency preparedness

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