After long trip, northern Manitoba wildfire evacuees face uncertainty as they seek shelter in Winnipeg
'Our home was our safe zone, and here we are in the city. We don't know anybody,' says Flin Flon evacuee
People forced out of their northern Manitoba homes by wildfires say they don't know what's next, now that they've reached Winnipeg in search of shelter.
Four facilities in the city have been opened to the thousands of evacuees ordered to leave their homes Wednesday, as the Manitoba government declared a provincewide state of emergency.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said the city will also look at using other facilities as needed.
City officials said Thursday the province and the Canadian Red Cross are handling operations at evacuation centres set up at the Billy Mosienko, Eric Coy and Century arenas, as well as the Winnipeg Soccer Federation North complex.
Mary and Leonard Daniels were among the about 5,000 Flin Flon residents ordered on Wednesday afternoon to leave the city — about 630 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg as the crow flies, but a drive of more than 800 kilometres. The couple was at Billy Mosienko Thursday, where a reception centre has been set up.
"I drove all night and I still haven't got no sleep yet," Mary Daniels said. "We registered, and we took some snacks and drinks. So we're just trying to get a hold of Red Cross."
The Red Cross said the flow-through shelters are designed to let people stay temporarily, while the organization finds them a hotel room or other accommodations.
The Red Cross does not have official figures of many cots are available at the four locations, it said in an email Thursday.
"There are plenty of options that we're supporting," said Luc Mullinder, vice-president of the Canadian Red Cross for Manitoba.
"One of the things that's always a priority is folks that have either health issues or are a little bit older, [or] children. Those are people that we prioritize, and then we move on from there."
But Daniels, whose husband is disabled, said the family is waiting for an update on where they'll end up staying.
"He's old and he can't sleep on a cot.... He just got out of the hospital," Daniels said.
"We haven't got any answers to our questions on when we're going home … or how long we're going to be here. So kind of feel misplaced right now, you know?" she said.
"Our home was our safe zone, and here we are in the city. We don't know anybody."
'We will not fit'
Gina Malate, also from Flin Flon, was among a few members of that city's Filipino community who got on the road together shortly after the evacuation order was issued Wednesday afternoon.
She said the group planned to stick together and support each other, but that may not be possible.
"We have … [nowhere] to stay here," Malate said.
"Just imagine — we are six vehicles, and then who's going to let us stay?" she said. "We will not fit. We have families."
More than 17,000 people are expected to leave their communities because of the wildfires in northern Manitoba. In addition to Flin Flon, the communities of Lynn Lake, Sherridon, Pukatawagan Cree Nation (also known as Mathias Colomb First Nation), Marcel Colomb First Nation and Pimicikamak Cree Nation are also under evacuation orders.
The province says the majority of evacuees will go to Winnipeg, urging those in the city to seek shelter with friends and family first, if possible.
Evacuees are encouraged to register with the Red Cross online or by calling 1-800-863-6582 (toll-free) between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Mullinder said the Red Cross is working with a "ton of partners" to find evacuees accommodations as soon as it can.
Meanwhile, the YMCA-YWCA said it's opening facilities at its four locations in Winnipeg (Downtown, Elmwood-Kildonan, South, and West Portage) to evacuees while they're in the city.
"Could be something as simple as shower facilities that we can provide, or things to do with the kids in a really tough time," said vice-president of philanthropy Kevin Hunter.
"We can only imagine what those families are going through, so having a safe place ... they can go spend some time, have a bit of normalcy and fun, we think that's important."
Hospital patients relocated
On Thursday, Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara praised the health-care staff who helped evacuate all of Flin Flon's 71 hospital patients, along with almost 70 residents from two personal care homes.
They were all relocated to health-care facilities across the province by Thursday morning.
The minister said some staff are volunteering to continue caring for their patients even while evacuated themselves, while 19 staff have remained at Flin Flon's hospital to ensure health-care services are available for the people left behind to fight the wildfires.
"They're choosing to be in a location where they know there's a serious wildfire situation not too far away, because they believe in doing what they can to keep people safe. That, to me, is so commendable," Asagwara said.
Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.
With files from Mike Arsenault, Ian Froese, Maggie Wilcox, Ilrick Duhamel and Antoine Brière