OTTAWA, Canada, July 26, 2023 –In the aftermath of severe flooding that devastated the Canadian province of Nova Scotia over the weekend, His Excellency V. Alfred Gray on Tuesday released a statement declaring, “As the Bahamas High Commissioner to Canada, I wish to report that ALL Bahamians living in the flood-ravaged area of Halifax, Canada, are accounted for and are doing well.”
“I have been in touch with the city Mayor’s office and have also spoken to Mr. Matthew Saunders, the President of the Halifax Bahamian Association of Canada, and he also reports that all is well,” High Commissioner Gray said. “Be assured that the Bahamas High Commission in Canada stands ready to assist all Bahamian citizens living in Canada if and when the need ever arises to do so.”
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported on Tuesday, July 25, that Halifax Regional Municipality has launched a registry for people who are stranded at home and struggling to access supplies because of flood damage.
Erica Fleck, division chief of emergency management with the municipality, said the goal is to help those who are in need of food, medication or medical attention.
“We just want to make sure that we’re tracking everybody that needs immediate help,” she said.
The CBC noted that the “historic and devastating floods over the weekend swept away vehicles and wrecked driveways, roads, and culverts.”
“Some parts of the province had more than 200 millimetres of rainfall by Sunday morning,” the CBC said.
Fleck said she estimates a few thousand people are stranded or sheltering in place due to the damage on or around their property.
“Most of them have good support networks in their neighbourhoods. But we just want to make sure that nobody’s falling through the cracks,” she said.
On Tuesday evening, the municipality also announced it was closing the evacuation centre inside the East Dartmouth Community Centre, and advised people to call 311 if they had urgent needs.
