Status report on activities to assist people arriving in Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister, Oliver Langdon, minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), accompanied by Fred Hollett, Acting Director of EMO, Superintendent Gerry Lynch of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Deputy Chief of Police, Gary Browne, of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) provided a status report on activities being undertaken to assist people arriving in Newfoundland and Labrador on flights originally bound for the United States.
The minister stated that flights are arriving from many countries and the province is establishing a registration and inquiry process, as well as accommodations and interpretation services. The province's emergency response program has been activated and an emergency operations centre is established at the EMO headquarters in St. John's. Each community has activated its emergency response program and at this time, there are hundreds of people mobilized in this response effort. "I want to assure relatives of the passengers and crew on these flights that this province is prepared to help in any way we can during this extremely difficult crisis," said Minister Langdon. "We are also working very closely with federal and provincial agencies to coordinate our efforts and put plans in place to help ease the burden for these people." Hospitals, schools and numerous agencies have been alerted and are prepared to assist as needed. Media contact: Sean Kelly, Director of Communications, (709) 729-1983. 2001 09 11 5:55 p.m. |
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