Tamara Baluja's report on Special needs evacuation meeting

Listen to Tamara Baluja's report.

A town hall meeting was held near Keele and Wilson to address special needs issues in the Downsview propane explosion zone. Many of the individuals complained they did not know proper evacuation procedure for people with disabilities and seniors with special needs.

But Toronto Fire Services and the Red Cross says the information is out there - its just a matter of educating yourself. John Saunders, Ontario Provincial Director of Red Cross Disaster Management says education needs to be done on a grassroots level.

Several residents were concerned that while in an apartment high-rise or condos, its fairly easy for neighbours to know one another and their special needs, the same just wouldn't be possible detached housing. Toronto Fire Public Education Officer Ken Johnson says establishing a buddy system is really the best thing. "We did it for swimming, so why not have a buddy system for everything else?", said Johnson. And if you do have special needs, Toronto Fire recommends just staying in your homes and letting them do the evacuations.

Others wanted to know if a registry listing of everyone with special needs would make evacuation for Fire and EMS more efficient. Toronto Fire Captain Mike Strapko says any information is always helpful, but the logistics would make it nearly impossible to keep such a list up-to-date.

John Saunders from Red Cross Disaster management says a similar registry existed in some counties in the U-S, but was not successful. Such a listing could not be made mandatory in Canada because it would violate a privacy laws.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has set up provisions to help do clean-up and repairs in homes damaged by the explosion. Saunders says this initiative says the clean-up will start on sites closest to the explosion and then fan out on a street-by-street basis. "This is for residents who are either physically incapable, or lacking insurance or cannot afford the repairs", said Sauders.  

Residents are asked to call 416-480-2615 and the Red Cross is hoping to start work on Saturday. The number of workers, as well as how long this project will continue all depend on the response from the community.