On the morning of Saturday, Feb. 15, people in Badger were getting ready for a another winter's day. Some people were out for a morning stroll, others were chopping wood for their stoves or getting ready to bring their children to a minor hockey game.

What they didn't know was millions of tonnes of ice had jammed downstream on the Exploits River, Newfoundland's longest.

It only took an hour for the water to rise 2.5 meters. A flood of water carrying pans of ice spread though more than half of Badger with such speed that people had to flee with little more than their clothes.

A state of emergency was declared in the town of 1,200, and people were ordered to vacant their homes.

The river water and ice froze solid as temperatures over the next few days hit lows of -25 to -30.

Most residents fled to two temporary shelters in nearby Grand Falls-Windsor or are staying with friends or relatives in the community. With the support of our donors, the Red Cross was able to ensure that essential relief services were provided to the affected families. In collaboration with the Department of Human Resources and Employment and Salvation Army, Red Cross has registered the evacuees and is providing them with immediate relief in the form of food, clothing and personal care items. People in the shelters, along with evacuees staying elsewhere are provided cash vouchers to purchase the items they need at local stores. Red Cross has also responded to hundreds of inquires from family and friends across Canada wanting information about their loved ones from Badger.