The Canadian Red Cross published recently published new numbers, which reveal that the number of people it aided following Hurricane Fiona was the greatest number of people it had provided post-disaster assistance to in recent years.
More than 96,000 households were assisted by the Canadian Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. The charitable organization also managed to raise over $54 million to help victims of Fiona, which included matching funds from the federal government.
The Red Cross also provided some of the funds raised as financial assistance to families affected by Fiona, though a release from the organization did not mention specific amounts.
By comparison, the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016 – a catastrophic event that punctuated the highest loss year on record – saw the Canadian Red Cross help some 88,000 households. However, that catastrophe event saw more donations – $323 million – from individuals, community groups, companies, and even governments across Canada.
"With Fiona, it impacted hundreds and hundreds of communities scattered throughout all of Eastern Canada," Canadian Red Cross Atlantic director of governance and stakeholder relations Bill Lawlor told CBC News.
Lawlor added that it was only through the generosity of donors that the Red Cross was able to do some of the relief activities that it had accomplished. Over 1,000 volunteers and staff helped the Red Cross as it provided aid to households in Atlantic Canada. They also worked to provide emergency lodging to more than 1,200 individuals on behalf of the provincial governments.
"It can be very demanding when we are in response mode, and we are so very appreciative of the 1,000 staff and volunteers who were able to support these efforts," said Lawlor. "Without them we would have had a much more limited capacity and availability to make as much outreach as we did."
A report from the Insurance Bureau of Canada found that last year, severe weather led to $3.1 billion in insured damage. Hurricane Fiona, which occurred between September 23 and 24, 2022, caused $800 million in estimated insured damage.
