Friday, October 13, 2006, the town of Port Colborne, Ont. declared a state of emergency. A massive snow storm hit, which devastated many.

Major Gord Armstrong, CO, St. Catharines, Ont., was called on to assist victims by preparing meals and handing out water. An eight member team was deployed to Port Colborne high school.

A second call came for help in Fort Erie, also in a state of emergency.  With the help of The Salvation Army in the surrounding area, two mobile canteens and two kitchens were set up to feed whoever came to the shelters.

Many people were without power and meals were distributed to hydro workers.

The Salvation Army in Buffalo called for assistance as an enormous number of people there were affected and without electricty for more than three days. It took another week before power was restored. The Salvation Army in St. Catharines and Stoney Creek continued to send manpower for 10 days.

The total number of meals served in all was 2,746 and 99 pastoral contacts were made. There is still much work to be done in Buffalo following this freak  storm.