New Brunswick Update

July 5 Update– The Perth-Andover Long Term Recovery Committee is now functioning and has recently completed an assessment of the homes that had applied for assistance. MDS, together with Christian Disaster Relief (CDR),the relief agency of The Church of God in Christ, have reviewed the case load and decided that CDR is capable of handling the work load with their volunteers. CDR has two congregations in the local vicinity and is already on the ground working at repairs. MDS will continue to monitor the situation, but no longer foresees opening a project in Perth-Andover.

June 13, 2012- Serious flooding occurred in New Brunswick when heavy rains sent the already swollen St. John River spilling over its banks and flooding hundreds of residences. Peter Bunnett, who has coordinated MDS responses in Atlantic Canada for many years, has been working diligently to establish a response in Atlantic Canada. Mennonite Disaster Service has established a working relationship with Samaritan’s Purse and with Christian Reform World Relief Committee over the past two years. In this case, as in past, Samaritan’s Purse personnel were on the job doing the initial cleanup phase as soon as the waters receded enough to allow volunteers to work safely. As issues of funding are addressed by government agencies the partners are looking to see how best to respond to the disaster. Plans are not finalized but the MDS ON Unit has committed to send its tool trailer to the site if a recovery project is established. Details on the project and opportunities to volunteer will be shared as plans emerge and are finalized. An investigation has been launched into the tornadoes that touched down in Quebec to determine if there is a need for MDS volunteers. Information will follow as it becomes available.