a little more . . .
A convoy of 20 trucks left Montreal for Texas Tuesday, carrying 20,000 cots and blankets destined for the American Red Cross hurricane relief effort.
The Red Cross expects them to be dispatched to some of its 485 emergency shelters set up to accept more than 140,000 hurricane evacuees.
The cots are the property of Quebec’s public security department. It bought 55,000 of them after the 1998 ice storm.
Sauvé said the province agreed to loan them for as long as they’re needed. And Ottawa stepped in to pay the shipping costs.
So far the Canadian Red Cross has collected $1.5 million to help in the relief effort. Sauvé said financial donations are still welcome.
also
Two Canadian Search and Rescue helicopters will stay in the Boston area until at least Friday.
The two Canadian choppers were sent to help the U.S. Coast Guard off Cape Cod because American officials sent most of their aircraft to the Gulf Coast area to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Canadian Forces Capt. Doug MacNair said Wednesday that U.S. officials will re-assess their needs before deciding whether the Canadian helicopters will be sent back to their bases at Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L., and Bagotville, Que.
MacNair said the Canadian air crews have taken part in two search and rescue missions since they were sent to the states.
and
Canada’s four major TV broadcasters have announced they will all carry a ‘live’ one-hour concert to help raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims.
The program: “Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast” will be a special commercial-free simulcast on CBC TV, CTV, Global Television, and CHUM’s A-Channel and Citytv stations on Friday Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. ET.
Funds raised will support Red Cross relief efforts in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
Canadian viewers will be able to make donations during and after the telethon through the Canadian Red Cross via a toll-free number (to be announced during the telethon) or by visiting www.redcross.ca.