2021 British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather

Photo: BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Red Cross assisting people through personalized recovery support
Housing Repair and Reconstruction Support
CLOSED - 2021 BC Floods Residential Mitigation Incentive Program
CLOSED - 2021 BC Floods Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program
Visit us in person Additional ways the Canadian Red Cross is helping
For additional resources
We want to hear from you
 

Red Cross continues to assist people through personalized recovery support

Housing Repair and Reconstruction Support

The Red Cross is working with homeowners whose primary residence has been damaged from the November 2021 flooding and extreme weather event through housing repair and reconstruction support. In addition to the personalized recovery supports to plan for and navigate recovery, eligible homeowners may receive financial support to help meet their immediate needs, clean up their property and/or assist with expenses related to the repair or rebuilding of their home, or relocation. 

If you have been impacted by the 2021 November flooding and extreme weather event, and would like to inquire about eligibility for these support services, please reach out to the Red Cross to meet with a Case Manager. If you are unable to visit our teams in-person, or prefer to meet over the phone, please connect with the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT, or email bcfloodrecovery@redcross.ca. A private and confidential appointment will then be arranged with your family representative. Appointments may take place in-person, over the phone or virtually.
 

CLOSED - Residential Mitigation Incentive Program (Application closed on April 30, 2024)

The Canadian Red Cross was offering a new Residential Mitigation Incentive Program targeted to those living in areas impacted by the 2021 BC floods and extreme weather event.  

This program targeted those who are living in the flood-impacted area, but who either did not experience any damage or had only minor damage to their primary residence and therefore were unable to access funding through other Canadian Red Cross programs.  

This program aimed to provide support and resources to households looking to reduce risks, become more climate resilient and be better prepared for future events. Applicants had a range of activities to choose from, from home maintenance activities that should be done annually to reduce their risk, to more substantial projects to increase their home’s resilience to future flood events. Depending on which activities applicants chose and completed, their household may have been eligible for up to $5,000 to help with associated costs.

This program was open to those who are either homeowners, tenants or residing in a community-owned home. For more information about the program, please click here.
 

CLOSED - Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program

The Canadian Red Cross recognizes that support to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations is essential to the recovery of people and communities impacted by the 2021 BC floods and extreme weather event. In July 2022, the Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program was activated and ran until November 30, 2022. In January 2024, an additional assistance program was activated and ran until April 30, 2024. 

Visit the Red Cross case management team in person.
 

In Person Supports are available at: 

Merritt Support Centre located at 3499 Voght Street, Merritt, BC
Hours of operation - by appointment only: Monday to Friday 9:00am-4:00pm PST (excluding weekends and Statutory Holidays).

Office closed starting December 12, 2024 resuming in person supports January 14, 2025

Virtual services will be available throughout this time by contacting us via email at BCFloodRecovery@redcross.ca or 1-800-863-6582 as follows:
 

• December 23, 2024 - 8:30am to 4:30pm (PST)
• December 24, 2024 - 8:30am to 12pm (PST)
• December 25 & 26, 2024 - CLOSED
• December 27, 2024 - 8:30am to 4:30pm (PST)
• December 30, 2024 - 8:30am to 4:30pm (PST)
• December 31, 2024 - 8:30am - 12pm (PST)
• January 1, 2025 - CLOSED
• January 2, 2025 - 8:30am to 4:30pm (PST)
• January 3, 2025 - 8:30am to 4:30pm (PST)

People who were impacted by the floods and extreme weather can also register with the Canadian Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582, Monday to Friday (Closed Statutory Holidays) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT.

 

Additional ways the Canadian Red Cross is helping

The Canadian Red Cross continues to work closely with community leadership and all levels of government on how to best support people who have been impacted by the 2021 flooding and extreme weather in British Columbia.

Donor Updates 

Donations have enabled the Red Cross to carry out immediate and ongoing relief efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency, and risk reduction activities in and beyond the region at the individual and community levels.

• BC Floods: Donor update as of February 2022 
• BC Floods: Donor update as of July 2022
• BC Floods: Financial Summary Update as of May 31, 2022
• BC Floods: Financial Summary Update as of September 30, 2022
• BC Floods: One Year Update

Additional Resources

Emergency Preparedness
For further tips and advice on what to do before, during and after floods, visit https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/emergencies-and-disasters-in-canada/types-of-emergencies/floods.
 
The Canadian Red Cross blog is another useful resource, including articles like this about the current B.C. floods.

Wellbeing and Coping with Crisis
Following an emergency or disaster, a person may experience a range of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that can be intense, confusing, and frightening. These experiences trigger responses that can include physical, emotional, and behavioural reactions.

There are many resources to help you, your family, and your community. Learn more about Coping with Crisis, including ways that you can care for yourself and your loved ones during an emergency. View the Canadian Red Cross' Moving Through Recovery: Guide for the Holidays.

If you are concerned for the immediate safety or yourself or someone else, call a local crisis support line or 911 right away. Key local crisis lines are listed below and specialised crisis lines are services can also be found here.

• ​1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433): for individuals who are or know someone who is having thoughts of suicide. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and in up to 140 languages. Operated in partnership with Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C.
• 310-Mental Health (310-6789 - no need to dial an area code):for individuals who would like emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health in British Columbia. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is toll-free anywhere in British Columbia (no need to dial an area code).
• Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868 or text 686868): Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 national service offering professional counselling, information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support for young people in English and French. Now, Indigenous people can connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder, when available, by messaging FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to 686868 for young people and 741741 for adults or through Facebook.

We want to hear from you

The mission of the Canadian Red Cross is to help those in times of need. We are always trying to improve our systems, processes, and programs to better serve you. We encourage you to provide feedback on your experience or interactions with us.  If you would like to share any feedback or have questions, please email us at CRCfeedback4@redcross.ca.
 
If you would like a response to your email, please ensure to include your full name, address, current phone number and as much detail and specifics as possible. These details will help us to better respond to your email.

Your feedback is important to us. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, we will respond to your email as soon as possible. For journalists and media outlets, please find a listing of all media contacts here.