Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex is now part of a network of organizations to be called upon in case of emergency throughout the province.
The organization has joined the Ontario Corps and will use its housing and construction knowledge to respond when disasters like floods or fires strike.
"We feel like we're really prepared to respond in the case of an emergency. We know housing, we know repairs so that's what we're ready to do," said Executive Director Fiona Coughlin.
A group of volunteers from Windsor-Essex, Hamilton, and Northumberland participated in emergency preparedness training with Ontario Corps on Thursday.
"When a crisis happens, it's the worst day of their life and if they've put everything into being able to provide a home for their family they don't want to lose it," said Coughlin. "Our goal is to either prevent evacuations or reduce the lengths of evacuations to preserve the housing stock."
Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response Jill Dunlop said it is important to know they can call on organizations with the right expertise.
"Their expertise in building is very important," said Dunlop. "Specialities in plumbing and electricity so it's really important as evacuees return to areas or even in devastated areas that have seen catastrophe, and they need to know they are going back into safe dwellings."
