Army Provides $1.5 Million in Flood Relief
(Pictured above: City of Abbotsford Mayor Mr. Henry Braun and First Nations Emergency Support Society’s Dean Colthorp receiving their funding of $100,000 and $500,000 respectively from Lt. Colonel Jamie Braund)
In the Winter of 2021, British Columbia declared a state of emergency as the Lower Mainland experienced the worst flooding to hit the region in a century. Floods and landslides cut off major transportation routes and entire communities were under water. People lost their homes, businesses were destroyed, and the disruption in transportation limited the number of essential supplies that were available.
In First Nations communities, the support was desperately needed as many of the villages were cut off completely from all forms of help and the recovery efforts are taking twice as long because a lot of the infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, were completely destroyed.
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services responded swiftly and were on the scene in six of the hardest-hit communities feeding and hydrating first responders and evacuees, while also providing shelter, blankets, jackets and much-needed spiritual care. Thanks to your generous support we were able to raise over $1.8 million to use towards immediate and long-term recovery efforts. As part of our work with municipal leaders in the most critically hit areas, including those in the Indigenous communities, we were able to provide more than $600,000 to regions impacted by the flood. This initial round of funding went towards the immediate relief efforts: food security, evacuation supplies, and temporary shelters.
In May we were proud to present $725,000 to support communities that are dealing with recovery and restoration. Communities including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Merritt, and Princeton and the First Nations Emergency Service Society were able to use this money towards construction, equipment and labour, and continued support with food security.
“On behalf of Abbotsford City Council, the City of Abbotsford and our residents, I want to thank The Salvation Army for their flood relief support immediately following the November 2021 flood and now as recovery work continues. Over 300 City infrastructure sites were damaged and $100,000 to the City of Abbotsford will help us move our recovery and restoration work forward.”
– Henry Braun, City of Abbotsford Mayor
In the early days of the flood, The Salvation Army was on hand to provide immediate relief to first responders and evacuees in the hardest hit areas. Funds were also distributed to outlying communities to support the influx of evacuees. Communities such as Kamloops and Kelowna were there to support evacuees with everything from food security to clothing to Christmas gifts for those who were displaced into the holiday season.
Because of the generosity and support of donors like you, we are able to help communities affected by the floods across B.C. and continue Giving Hope Today … and every day. And we thank you.
To learn more about The Salvation Army visit salvationarmy.ca
