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Fabian Relief Line gets 110 calls

Govenment's Hurricane Fabian Relief Line (RFL) has been called by 110 people in the weeks since the storm.

The FRL was set up as a referral service immediately after the destruction caused by Hurricane Fabian and has received calls on subjects such as relief supplies, house damage, finances, debris removal and requests for tarpaulin.

The majority of calls came in the first three weeks after the hurricane hit the Island on September 5, and despite the helpline becoming significantly less busy in recent weeks, it remains in use.

"To date, some 110 calls have been made to the FRL ? most of which were made in the first three weeks after Hurricane Fabian," said Minister of Health and Family Services Patrice Minors.

"Issues relating to attaching and re-attaching of tarpaulins and issues of house damage accounted for the majority of calls. Most of the calls involved residences in Pembroke parish.

"During the week of October 18, three calls were received with regard to roof slate and trash collection.

"The National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) along with other agencies, both within the community and Government has co-ordinated well in the delivering of services for the needs which have been identified.

She said that of the $75,000 corporate donation given to the NOSPC, $54,000 had been used to aid seniors.

Roughly 60 people have received help with repair of broken windows, roof repairs, removal of contaminated water from tanks and paying insurance deductibles.

"The spirit of co-operation and creativity in dealing with the community's problems in the wake of Hurricane Fabian has been a testament to the resourcefulness of the Bermudian community.

"And I must take this opportunity to thank all the various organisations in the private sector who have offered their support.

"In the coming weeks, we shall re-assemble the members of the Emergency Assistance Organisation to perform a continuing assessment regarding the needs of the community.

"We accept that even in these circumstances some issues may not have been resolved and, where this is the case, we are anxious to learn from the community what still may be outstanding in terms of assistance."

The breakdown of calls is as follows: tarpaulin, 21 percent; relief supplies, 13 percent; house damage, 13 percent; electricity, ten percent; employment, ten percent; finances ten percent; debris removal, nine percent; plywood, six percent; water, five percent; others, three percent.

The line remains open on 232-6388.