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Atlantic Canada: Wildfire Responses 2023

Housing Repair and Reconstruction Program

Nova Scotia: Wildfire Response

The Canadian Red Cross continues to support those impacted by the 2023 wildfires in Nova Scotia as they work through their recovery. If you have been contacted by Canadian Red Cross and have questions about support that may be available, you can reach us at 1-800-863-6582, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, AT (excluding weekends and stat holidays). 


Personalized Recovery Support
Thanks to the support of donors, as well as matching funds from the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross is offering personalized recovery support  to the people most impacted by wildfires in Nova Scotia. 

The Canadian Red Cross works with individuals and families to help them navigate their recovery journey, ensuring they are part of the planning and decision-making processes.

Red Cross support may include helping those impacted with planning their return home, understanding insurance and community resources, providing information and referrals, as well as providing financial assistance to access mental health services for those who have experienced major damage to, or the destruction of, their primary home.

If you have been impacted by the Atlantic wildfires and would like to find out more about personalized recovery support, please call 1-800-863-6582 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADT) to book a private and confidential appointment with a Case Manager. Appointments will be either in-person, over the phone or virtually. 

Housing Repair and Reconstruction Program
The Canadian Red Cross is working with homeowners whose primary residence has sustained major damage or been destroyed as a result of the 2023 Nova Scotia Wildfires through housing repair and reconstruction support.
 
Our Case Managers can support you with putting together a recovery plan, understanding insurance and community resources, as well as providing referrals and information to help you make decisions and inform next steps in your recovery journey.
 
Eligible homeowners may be able to receive financial assistance to help with costs related to housing repair and reconstruction, including:

  • Professional services (e.g., engineer, financial and/or legal professionals)
  • Expenses related to the clean up their property and home
  • Expenses related to the repair or rebuilding of their home, including mitigation activities
  • Expenses related to moving to a new location
  • Mental Health and wellbeing supports
 
If you have been impacted by the 2023 wildfires in Nova Scotia and would like to learn more about the recovery supports available to you, please call 1-800-863-6582, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm ADT or email us at NSrecovery@redcross.ca to book an appointment with a Case Manager. 
  
Assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis and is not intended to duplicate insurance coverage or other assistance programs.


In-person appointments will be held at the following locations:
Please call 1-800-863-6582 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm ADT, excluding weekends and stat holidays to book an appointment.

Halifax Regional Municipality
Redmond’s Plaza, 5181 St. Margarets Bay Road (Bay 2, Middle Entrance), Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia
Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm (ADT). Closed weekends and Stat Holidays.

Barrington
Municipal Building, 2447 NS Trunk 3, Barrington, Nova Scotia, B0W 1E0
Tuesdays 1pm - 4pm & Wednesdays 9am - 4pm (ADT).

Community Centre, 2517 Nova Scotia Trunk 3, Barrington, Nova Scotia, B0W 1E0
Thursdays 9am – 12 pm (ADT).

Please note the following holiday hours and closures:

Halifax Regional Municipality - Upper Tantallon: Office closed starting December 23, 2024 resuming in person supports January 6, 2025.

Barrington (Municipal building/Community Center): Office closed starting December 20, 2024 resuming in person supports January 7, 2025.

Virtual services will be available throughout this time by contacting us via email at NSRecovery@redcross.ca or 1-800-863-6582 as follows:
 
  • December 23, 2024 - 9am to 5pm (AST)
  • December 24, 2024 - 9am to 12pm (AST)
  • December 25 & 26, 2024 - CLOSED
  • December 27, 2024 - 9am to 5pm (AST)
  • December 30, 2024 - 9am to 5pm (AST)
  • December 31, 2024 - 9am - 12pm (AST)
  • January 1, 2025 - CLOSED
  • January 2, 2025 - 9am to 5pm (AST)
  • January 3, 2025 - 9am to 5pm (AST)

FRAUD ALERT: Unfortunately, there are some people who may try to take advantage of those impacted by a disaster through fraudulent tactics. The Canadian Red Cross will never ask for your banking information, social insurance number or credit card number in order to receive financial assistance. The Canadian Red Cross communicates only via email, phone, or in-person and would never send a link through a text message to receive assistance. The Red Cross encourages people to stay informed from credible sources, such as the Government of Canada’s website for fraud prevention tips. If you suspect you have been a victim of fraudulent activity, please contact your local police authority.

Protect yourself from scams and fraud (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca). 


After wildfires
  • Click here for available resources to help you in your recovery after wildfires. This includes: Step-by-step Canadian Red Cross Guide to Wildfire Recovery for information on what to do when you return home after wildfires.
  • Home Inventory Checklist: a list of your home inventory which is helpful both for insurance and other assistance programs. In the case of an insurance claim, an insurance provider would use a similar form to assess the cost to repair or replace lost or damaged items. These items are referred to as home contents.
  • Substantial Repair and Reconstruction Contract Checklist: Hiring a contractor for damage or rebuild? Use this checklist with tips as a guide when reviewing the contract prior to signing with a contractor.

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. If you are concerned for the immediate safety of yourself or someone else, call a local crisis support line or 911 right away.

Additional resources are listed below and specialised crisis lines or services can also be found here. 
 
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 CRCfeedback3@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.