Islanders prepare to keep themselves — and others — safe and warm
CBC
With all of Prince Edward Island under an extreme cold warning, preparations are underway to keep residents, their pets and properties safe and warm.
The provincial Emergency Measures Organization is urging residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of frostbite and windburn. Specifically EMO says Islanders should do the folllowing:
With the extremely cold temperatures expected to develop Friday night and persist into Saturday morning, Islanders without a warm home to go to will be getting some extra help this weekend.
Charlottetown
The Community Outreach Centre in Charlottetown will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the Park Street Emergency Shelter will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
A transportation service will be available to take people between the centre and the shelter so that people do not have to walk in the cold.
The Community Outreach Centre plans to have extra staff on hand to serve the anticipated high number of people. They will also open up additional space within the centre and serve hot food — something they do not normally offer.
"We do not duplicate services of the soup kitchen, but this weekend we will be providing some hot food because we know it will be hard for people to walk," said Roxanne Carter-Thompson, executive director of the Adventure Group, which operates the centre.
Hours won't be expanded this weekend at the Park Street Emergency Shelter, and staff are reminding people who regularly use the shelter to let them know if they have found somewhere else to stay.
"We want to see anyone who needs a place to sleep at night has an opportunity to access shelter, appropriate shelter, to meet their needs," said Shelley Cole, supportive housing manager at the Department of Social Development and Housing. "So, if they are unable to use a bed that they have previously reserved we want to be able to turn that bed over and make it available for someone else who is in need."
Chris Clay of the Native Council of P.E.I. also said making sure people stay indoors is the most important thing.
"With this cold, there's a possibility of frostbite, there's many numerous problems, so making sure that everybody is indoors this weekend is going to be our biggest priority."
A provincial news release Wednesday said that in addition to the Park Street emergency shelter, Bedford MacDonald House will be operating overflow beds. And it said arrangements have been made for additional beds if the shelter is at capacity, but did not indicate where those beds would be located.
Also in Charlottetown, the Salvation Army will be open Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for those needing to get out of the cold. They will be serving coffee, tea, sweets and muffins.
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