Red Cross ready to help people affected by rain storm
30 road closures and detours, some schools closed
P.E.I. is still feeling the effects of this week's heavy rain storm with several road detours remaining in place Friday and some schools closed.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal lists about 30 road closures and detours.
Schools in the Westisle family and École Pierre Chaisson remain closed.
The transportation department is meeting Friday morning to come up with a plan to fix the damage.
Crews in the hardest-hit, western areas of the Island will be getting some help Friday, says Darren Chaisson, director of highway maintenance.
"And especially with our staff, you can tell they're getting quite tired. They've been working shift work here around the clock and this has been pretty mentally exhausting on all of them," he said.
"Resources are getting a little depleted. But we do have crews from other parts of the province heading up to help out here today."
Flood kits available
P.E.I. Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Robert Vessey, who toured some of the damaged areas Thursday, expects repairs will total in the millions of dollars. He said the province will have to call on the federal government for assistance.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross provincial director Laura Montigny says the organization will help in whatever way it can, including temporary lodging if required.
She says free flood kits are available for Islanders as well but, so far only two people have taken advantage of this offer, which Montigny values at about $70.
"The flood kits have buckets and cleaning material, garbage bags, mops, brooms," said Montigny.
"So it's a free, complimentary kit for Islanders. And if they're not able to get to our office they can certainly call us, and we can arrange for volunteers to actually bring it to them."
Call the Red Cross at 1-800-222-9597 to receive a kit.