Update Sunday 12 October 4pm
Emergency Payments
If you are in contact with a council officer regarding emergency fund payments, you will be receiving an email from our welfare team today. They will also try to call you to provide some reassurance that this is not a scam but you may receive the email first.
This email will explain the process for accessing emergency funds to help with things like food and transport while you are unable to return home.
The quickest way to get emergency funds to you is through a system called Cash Perks. We will send each household a text message (using the contact details we have on file) which will give you a link to the Cash Perks website, which will have a list of cashpoints you can use and a code you need to take with you. You will then be able to go to one of the cash points listed, enter the code we have provided (you don’t need a bank card, just the code) and the last four digits of the phone number we have on file for you.
The machine will then issue cash to support your immediate needs. Please note that if all households go to the same cash point, there is a risk the funds won’t be sufficient so please try another cash point if the first one doesn’t work.
Resident Meetings
Two update meetings will now be held at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club on Monday (13 October) – one at 1.30pm and another at 6pm. This second meeting has been organised as a number of residents said they wouldn’t be able to make the earlier one due to work commitments. If you are unable to attend either meeting, an update on what is discussed will be posted on this page.
Access to Parkside House
Due to the building having no light or power, access to Parkside House to collect any belongings will not be possible from 6.30pm to 7am over the coming days. This is to ensure everyone’s safety when it is dark. If you need to collect any belongings, please do so before 6.30pm or after 7am.
Update Sunday 12 October 1pm
The fire last night (11 October) started in an electrical intake cupboard and affected one flat which was not occupied. Thanks to the efforts of London Fire Brigade, the fire was put out quickly. Two families went to hospital as a precaution but thankfully there were no injuries.
It is unlikely that anyone will be able to return to live in their home until at least next weekend (18 October). This is because UKPN need to restore power and checks need to be made to make sure the building and any cabling is safe. Council staff and London Fire Brigade colleagues are speaking to UKPN to ensure this is done as quickly as possible.
If you are currently in temporary accommodation arranged by the council, we will be extending this for you until next weekend and a council officer will confirm with you directly whether you can stay in the same place.
If you are currently staying with family or friends, we would encourage you to stay there if you can but if this won’t be possible until next weekend, please contact 020 8215 3000 and we will look into booking temporary accommodation for you.
You can return to your home if you need to collect any belongings or medicine for the next few days. Security staff are based at Parkside House and are accompanying families one by one, into their homes to retrieve items. If you need to collect anything, please make your way to Parkside House where security staff will be able to assist you with this but please bear in mind this may take a while as it’s being managed one home at a time. Please note there are no working lifts, and there are no lights, power or water etc.
Last night (11 October), we established a rest centre at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club to provide a base for anyone needing a safe place to go after Parkside House was evacuated.
This assistance centre will be open again today (12 October) at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club, Victoria Road, Dagenham RM10 7XL until 5pm and then on Monday (13 October) from 1.30pm to 5pm if you need to speak to a council officer. On Tuesday morning, this support will move to Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QS which will be open from 9am until 6pm.
We appreciate that families are having to deal with unforeseen costs like transport until you can return home. We are attempting to contact all 101 households affected to arrange for emergency funds to be released but this is likely to take a day or so as people are staying in various places across London. If you are vulnerable and will struggle with basic amenities (food, medicine etc) over the next 24 hours, please contact 020 8215 3000. If you have an urgent medical need, please contact 101.
We will also be alerting schools that children displaced by the fire may have difficulty getting to school. If you have school age children, please let your child’s school know.
There will be a resident meeting on Monday 13 October at 1.30pm at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club to give any further updates available. Details of what is discussed at this meeting will be posted on this webpage for anyone unable to attend.
