Columbia-Shuswap Regional District opens Resiliency Centre; residents could visit properties by next week
KAMLOOPS — With hundreds of properties lost due the Bush Creek East wildfire, the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is opening a Resiliency Centre in Salmon Arm to help those affected.
“If you think about someone who lost their home, they lost identification, insurance papers. They have lost all the things they need to reconnect. All of those services will be available there, including mental health services,” explained Tim Conrad, the Information Officer for the CSRD Emergency Operations Centre.
After mass evacuation orders were put in place two weeks ago, most residents just want to go home. “People want to get back and they want to see what’s happening back in their houses, they want to go look at it. They want to grieve. They want to start their lives again, that’s the biggest thing,” said Avery Shoaf, one of the evacuees from the wildfire.