'We are in crisis mode': Shelters feeling the impact of massive power outage
The widespread power outages following Saturday's severe storm are having a major impact on some of the city of Ottawa’s most vulnerable.
Interval House of Ottawa is a shelter for those fleeing domestic violence, including children. The shelter suffered massive damage to its building and surrounding fences, including uprooted trees, a collapsed gazebo and damaged roof.
"Everyone is safe, everyone has their basic needs met," says Keri Lewis, the executive director of the shelter. "We are going to have a lot of work to clean all this up."
Lewis says, "Our programs are not fully operational because we are just attending to the day-to-day needs, making sure there are meals brought in… that sort of thing."
She says without power, some of the shelter’s services have been impacted. Staff has been working extra hours to make sure residents' needs are met.
"We operate a 24-hour crisis line and a text and chat line, offering folks a discreet way to reach out. Both of those lines are operating, they are a bit patchy. We want to get the word out for those trying to get through to us, we are trying very hard to answer and to be here but because the power is still down, and the communication is patchy, so we are not able to get to every call," Lewis says."
"There are other organizations Chrysalis House, Oshki Kizis Lodge and Maison Amitie, these are all organizations who have crisis lines so if you can’t get through to us, please reach out to other organizations."
She says living without power is also re-traumatizing many of the residents.
"There was a lot of noise and banging and clanging as trees and furniture were flying through the air," says Lewis. "Seeing the storm go through, and the destruction it has caused, for folks who are experiencing trauma it can be triggering."
The shelter has put a call out on social media asking for donations to help get them through until the power is restored.
"We only have a couple of working outlets," says Lewis.
"People with power who have battery packs, ice and snacks. Those are things we could really use right now but having a hard time getting."
Other social services have seen an increase in demand since the storm hit.
Peter Tilley says at the Ottawa Mission, more people are coming for a hot meal and a place to connect.
The Mission had been working on a generator until Tuesday when power was restored to the shelter.
"We cannot go without power when you are providing emergency services for people in a hospice, health clinic and meals," Tilley said.
"We have seen the demand at Chef Ric’s impacted because this weekend we started getting calls from community housing and residences where people were in need of food."
The Mission is using their mobile food truck to provide hot meals for those without power. Tilley says they are providing 2,500 meals a day, up from their regular 1,000 meals.
He says the meals are "to support many of the Ottawa Community Housing. We didn’t think this was going to be the use for food trucks, but when I said to (Chef Ric), 'Can we handle this?' He said, 'We have no chose the community needs us.'"
The Ottawa Food Bank is also seeing an increase and expects demand for social services to increase.
The Food Bank providing thousands of emergency meals a day since the storm hit.
"When the power comes back on that means that people will be ready to put food back in their fridges, so we think it is going to be even busier next week at the food banks," said Rachael Wilson with the Ottawa Food Bank.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Wildfire near Fort McMurray more than triples overnight, several evacuation alerts remain in place
The fire burning near Fort McMurray grew from 25 hectares to 5,500 hectares over the weekend.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.