The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Responds After Devastating Storm in Ottawa

The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams are supporting those affected by a quick and violent storm that ravaged the Ottawa area on May 21, 2022. The storm uprooted trees knocked down hydro poles and caused widespread power outages across the city affecting every neighbourhood. City officials reported that it would be a multi-day effort to restore power.

With Hydro Ottawa reporting about 180 thousand customers without power after the storm, The City of Ottawa set up reception centres for those who needed to recharge phones and computers, access WI-FI, take a warm shower, and access water and food. The City of Ottawa dispatched The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams to provide food at four of the centres, serving breakfast, snacks and dinner.

In two and half days, about 4,000 meals were served, 3,800 snacks and over 8,000 bottles of water, juice, and coffee. The Salvation Army provided breakfast, which included muffins, croissants, cereal, granola bars, fruit, coffee, water, and juice. A hot meal was offered at the sites each evening including pasta, pizza, soup, and grilled cheese. Salvation Army volunteers and staff delivered and set up each of the meals. The Salvation Army is grateful to our service partner Gordon Food Services Canada for supplying the much needed fresh food.

On Tuesday morning, Salvation Army Bethany Hope Centre Executive Director Sandra Randall and her staff helped load vehicles with food to be delivered to the reception centres.

“The need is there, and Ottawa has been through a lot over the last few years,” said Sandra. “As a Salvation Army mission partner, volunteering is a good thing to do. We need to support The Salvation Army when we can and we are in a position right now to do so as the Bethany Hope Center is closed because there is no power, which means we have the people available to help out.”

Sandra and her husband Chris, with the help of City staff and the Canadian Red Cross, set up breakfast at a west end reception centre.

“The staff here at the Cardel Recreation Centre in Stittsville have been amazing. Everyone is here to pitch in. I am seeing a lot of people here without power at home and no food because they are without refrigeration. It is  good to know that we can be here to support them,” said Sandra. “We will continue to be here for as long as we are needed.”

A line up of people, including families with children, began to form as breakfast was being set up.

“Everybody has been really appreciative, and people are telling their stories. One gentleman I spoke to said, ‘We went from dealing with COVID and everyone staying apart to this disaster which is bringing everyone back together again’.”

Over at an east end reception centre, volunteers from The Salvation Army Barrhaven Church, Givette and her husband Bill, were serving dinner Tuesday evening.

“We’ve been volunteering since we were children,” said Givette. “The Salvation Army is our church and as a church whenever there is a need for volunteers we are there. It’s that simple.”

The east end reception centre, located next to a big park, attracted families with young children who do not have power at home. They lined up for a hot pasta meal, juice and snacks.

“It’s been great. The people have been so kind and thankful. We had one little boy who even wanted to help. It makes us feel good and we’re probably getting more out of it than what we’re doing for others, which is often the case,” said Givette.

The Community Comes Together to Support One Another

After the storm, which toppled trees, knocked down nearly 200 hydro poles, blocked roads and damaged homes, community members came together to help one another with the clean up and find support.

They gathered in the streets and at the local reception centres where they shared their stories and recharged with a meal provided by The Salvation Army.

Mandy Horne has been coming to the west end reception centre with her family. “The Salvation Army has helped so much we would have been in big trouble if we did not have you. It’s been a huge blessing for our family. It’s also nice to have a place to plug in our phones,” she said.

Marthe and her husband came to the reception centre to recharge phones and have a hot shower. They also enjoyed the hot meals. “You have been very helpful. I was told the food was provided by The Salvation Army and we are very grateful. Volunteers were checking on us to see if we were ok and if we needed anything.”

Robert, who was visiting the Ottawa east reception centre, said his home had little damage, but he did have some downed trees which he cut up to make a bench and then donated the rest as firewood.

“I came here to charge my cell phone and for the hot meal as well,” he said. “I’m happy to be here and appreciate everything, Thank you very much.”

Bob, who is a team coordinator at the Kanata Food Cupboard, came to the reception centre to plug in his phone and contact his team members so they could continue food deliveries. Bob said he didn’t need the meals but was so touched by the work of The Salvation Army.

“I was also here on Sunday, and it was the first time we did the charging. We also noticed that you had the food truck. It was so great to see it,” said Bob as tears welled up in his eyes. “We did not need it ourselves, but the fact is that you were there for people that needed it. I do intend on donating because what a good cause it is. You do a super, super job.”

Crystal Ann Roebuck came to the reception centre with her children so that her 4-year-old daughter could have a warm shower and play in the playground. They were also glad to discover there was a hot meal ready for them prepared by The Salvation Army.

Crystal Ann says they often give clothing, toys and monetary donations to The Salvation Army and now she is benefiting from the organization she gives to.

“We can see how our donations are being used and it makes us want to donate even more,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to The Salvation Army and everyone for coming out to help. It has been a rough situation but it’s nice to have a spot where everyone feels like were going through this together.”

By: Caroline Franks