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The Red Cross offers seasoned disaster reliefBy Dominik Kurekbecause the flooding is widespread, the RedOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFCross is currently active in 24 communities inthe prairie province.A woman who is in charge of the Red CrosssVadsarias maximum deployment length isemergency preparedness in Halton is on her waythree weeks, and she expects to be there thatto Manitoba to help residents recover from theentire time.provinces worst flooding in centuries.The work Vadsaria is expected to do inMilton resident Azima Vadsaria, disasterManitoba is similar to what she has been pre-management co-ordinator for the Haltonpared to do in Halton Region.branches of the Red Cross, was deployed toWe offer, here, personal disaster assistance toManitoba Friday, May 20. From there, she was tothose that are evacuated from their home.be directed to a particular location.(Manitoba) is very similar, but thats in a large-Theres such a great amount of need, so I feltscale capacity, she said.it would be my opportunity to share some of theThe Red Cross has teams in place in Haltonknowledge and experience that Ive had and toto respond to disasters, on a small scale and thereassist people who are in a vulnerable positionare mechanisms to provide large-scale support,right now, Vadsaria said a day before her deploy-as well. It is that type of large-scale effort by thement.Red Cross that Vadsaria is assisting with inA former paramedic, Vadsaria has been a partManitoba.of the Red Cross since 1988, first as a volunteerIts all part of emergency planning and goingand then in 2001 as a paid staff member. She alsothrough response activities to assist those whoSUBMITTED PHOTOvolunteered overseas with another humanitarianhave been affected, she said.agency for a year, in refugee camps in Pakistan,A HELPING HAND: Halton Red Cross staffer Azima Vadsaria has headed to Manitoba to put Before her, other Halton residents have gonesheltering Afghan evacuees.her skills to good use. The former paramedic spent a year in Pakistan assisting refugees from out west on these supervisory volunteer relief Manitoba is currently experiencing wide-Afghanistan. effort positions, and more will follow her.spread floods that began in April. The AssiniboineHowever, the agency is selective about who itRiver is seeing its greatest inundation in centu-sends.Were immediately providing relief assis-In the shelter, we offer a number of emer-ries and more than 3,600 people have beenWe dont just send anyone just because of tance and were encouraging Manitobans to gency social services. Its anywhere from food, to forced out of their homes, according to a num-the nature of everything thats out there, shecome and register. In some cases, weve set up clothing, personal care needs or personal ser-ber of media reports.said.shelters, she said of the Red Cross relief efforts. vices, Vadsaria said.Vadsaria will be assisting the emergencyFor more information on flood relief or toThe shelters are open to people who can no The agency also helps with clean up efforts, to response team Shelter Operation, in a supervi-help the Red Cross in its efforts through a finan-longer return to their homes.reunite family members and more. She said sory role.cial donation, visit www.redcross.ca.! "ETTER 7AY TO #LEAN 9OUR (OME 4HE "ENEFITS OF AN %ASY &LO The Benefi ts of an Easy-Flo"UILT )N 6ACUUM 3YSTEMBuilt-In Vacuum System 0RICED 2IGHT Priced Right!s ,IFETIME WARRANTY $URABLE COMPONENTS ASSURE LONG s LIFETIME WARRANTY Durable components assure LIFE AND SOLID PERFORMANCE long life and solid performance 3UPER QUIET )DEAL FOR HOMES OF ALL SIZES AS WELL AS s TOWNHOMES AND CONDOS Super Quiet Ideal for homes of all sizes, as well as townhomes and condos 0ERMANENT SELF CLEANING FILTER .O MESSY BAGS TO s REPLACE OR FILTERS TO WASH 0APER BAG UNITS AVAILABLE Compact Size Fits almost anywhere (IGH PERFORMANCE 3INGLE AND $UAL MOTOR UNITS UP TO s AN ASTOUNDING AIR WATTS FOR ONLYINCLUDES FREE #OMPACT SIZE &ITS ALMOST ANYWHERE sElectric Power Hose$Power Head3999 Piece tool setIncludes:>Electric power hose)DEAL REPLACEMENT FOR CENTRALS THAT ARE Phd .OISY "LOWING DUST ,ACKING POWER )N NEED OF REPAIR n WHY REPAIR WHEN YOU CAN REPLACE AN EXISTING SYSTEM FOR A SIMILAR COST WWW EASYFLO COMOAKVILLE VACUUM LTD. CATALOGUE STORE 35 years in OakvilleWe Repair all Makes of Vacuum Cleaners & Sewing Machines198 SPEERS RD. OAKVILLE905-844-4736Just West of Kerr Street, beside MoneyMartwww.oakvillevac.comwww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 25, 2011 4