Additional supports are coming for Central Okanagan residents forced out of their homes by wildfires.

Currently, there are 9,855 properties on evacuation orders, with thousands more on alert.

害羞草研究所淭hese are unprecedented numbers,害羞草研究所� said Loyal Wooldridge, Regional District Central Okanagan (RDCO) chair, during a regional wildfire briefing on Monday (Aug. 21).

害羞草研究所淚 know that the queue has been long, and we have been working on solutions. Please be patient with support staff.害羞草研究所�

Emergency Support Services (ESS) Supervisor Jason Beddell acknowledged the lengthy waits some evacuees have experienced.

害羞草研究所淚 will say that our resources were stretched thin initially, I can害羞草研究所檛 deny that,害羞草研究所� he said.

He noted that many ESS volunteers, who have been evacuated, don害羞草研究所檛 even know if they have a home.

害羞草研究所淵et they are still showing up every single day to support their community. They deserve our admiration.害羞草研究所�

Beddell added that additional staff, provided by the province, are currently being trained and will be in place shortly.

害羞草研究所淲e are working to get back to those (evacuees) who reached out to us initially, and further information will be coming soon.害羞草研究所�

He also encouraged evacuees who are having difficulty accessing a reception centre to call the provincial ESS line at 1-800-585-9559.

Members of Samaritn害羞草研究所檚 Purse, a Christian humanitarian aid organization, arrived from Calgary Sunday (Aug. 20) night to set up and manage a new group lodging facility.

害羞草研究所淚 am working diligently to operationalize a second reception centre in that location,害羞草研究所� said Beddell.

ESS is also still working to prioritize accommodations for evacuees.

害羞草研究所淲e are very grateful to those visitors who have voluntarily left their hotel rooms and this has greatly increased our capacity for evacuees,害羞草研究所� added Beddell.

Additionally, psychological support is available to evacuees, staff, and volunteers at Prospera Place in Kelowna and Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada is also available to evacuees who are unsure what their homeowner policies cover by calling 1-844-227-5422.

As well, a virtual portal is being created to inform evacuees where they are in the queue for assistance.

害羞草研究所淭his will be online and more information will be available at ,害羞草研究所� said Beddell.

He noted that the ESS is pulling out all stops to support evacuees.

害羞草研究所淲e are extremely appreciative to the province who have been working hand in hand with us to remove the roadblocks that we are coming across. We need to get these supports to our evacuees and we are doing that.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: More than 800 Central Okanagan wildfire evacuees in Vernon

READ MORE: 害羞草研究所楲augh and cry and repeat害羞草研究所�: West Kelowna woman害羞草研究所檚 motto after losing home in wildfire

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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