Christmas weekend has quickly approached, and this means some businesses and non-profits will be operating with limited hours.

Greg Lowis, the Director of Corporate Services for the City of Merritt wants residents to know that the Resiliency Centre, which is working with the Red Cross, will be closed for in-person use through December 24th to 26th.

It will also be closed on New years Eve and New Years Day.

“We will still have a phone service available to the residents and that will be answered by city staff between 830 and 430”, Lowis says.

If assistance is required, he encourages Merritt residents to reach out at 1-800-863-6782.

Over 300 homes are still on evacuation order in Merritt, and awaiting confirmation of a safe return home.

Lowis tells NL News “the houses who are still on that order, it’s generally because they have issue with at least one of their Fortis natural gas, their BC hydro, their municipal water and sewer, or the house is deemed structurally unsound because there was foundational damage”

Lowis says depending on the scope of the damage, residents can bring in licensed contractors to complete an inspection, which could be their ticket home, if it passes as safe.