By David Klassen
WINNIPEG — Canadian Red Cross volunteers staged a training exercise in the city on Saturday.
The scenario? An ice storm in the RM of McPherson and evacuated residents seeking shelter.
“(The) shelter exercise was an opportunity for the dedicated volunteers of the Canadian Red Cross to use their training and skills to demonstrate how they are ready to help Manitobans when a real disaster does strike,” said Shawn Feely provincial director for the Canadian Red Cross in Manitoba.
The Red Cross opened a small-scale shelter for less than 10 people in September due to a Dauphin hotel fire.
Saturday’s demonstration was held at Immanuel Christian School simulating a much larger disaster.
“As we have seen in recent years in Manitoba, sudden disasters can happen very quickly and our skilled volunteers need to be ready in case they are called on to help,” Feely added.
Anyone interested in joining the Red Cross disaster response team in Manitoba can visit RedCross.ca or call (204) 982-7330.