The number of homes in Port aux Basques devastated by Hurricane Fiona has risen to 76.

That’s according to area MP Gudie Hutchings, who has been on the ground in the community throughout the day.

Hutchings is urging area residents to continue to heed warnings of local officials as the relief effort continues.

She stresses that residents need to wait until a plan is put in place for residents to go check on their homes. Hutchings has seen firsthand just how structurally unsafe many of the structures are and says they need to make sure homes are safe before people can enter.

Hutchings is in Port aux Basques currently, but she will be travelling to other areas along the coast in the coming days.

Meanwhile, military resources are being deployed to Newfoundland and Labrador to assist with the relief effort.

National Defense Minister Anita Anand says some of that will include visits from the HMCS Margaret Brook.

She says the ship will be conducting “wellness checks” in four communities along the south coast.