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TNRD opens resiliency centre in North Kamloops for wildfire evacuees

Help is here for evacuees

With evacuation orders issued for hundreds of properties across the region due to a wildfire season that some are calling unprecedented, the TNRD has set up a “one stop shop” in Kamloops for recovery services.

The resiliency centre, located at 3-700 Tranquille Rd., on the north side of Northills Shopping Centre, is intended to aid in the recovery and answer questions evacuees might have about their next steps.

Dave Kronebusch, manager of the TNRD resiliency centre said evacuees should only come to the new centre after they check in with emergency officials.

“We want you to first check in with the reception centre, first get assigned your assistance from that department,” Kronebusch explained.

“Once people have gotten out in there, and they're now trying to just catch their breath — what do they do next, that's where the resiliency [centre] can help.”

The North Shore facility has representatives from multiple private and government organizations.

“The resiliency centre is to help the evacuees to come to one place to get all the services that they think they need to get them accomplish. They're not running all over places to do it,” Kronebusch said.

“We've got insurance companies inside that will be able to start a claim for them, if they’ve got emergency funding included in their policy, they'll be able to walk out of here with a check for that.”

But in addition to financial and legal agencies, Kronebusch said they can get you in touch with a trauma councillor.

“That's the whole point is to stay steady and calm. And sometimes they need just a shoulder to cry on — and that's what most folks are really good at doing,” Kronebusch told Castanet Kamloops.

The centre manager said their services are looking to go mobile so they can access other communities where evacuees might not have transportation, but as of now the Northills Shopping Centre location will be open seven days a week between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.



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