Continued Flood Relief Efforts in Alberta

Flood Relief Update – July 29, 2013:

It is now more than a month since The Salvation Army received the first call to assist those who were being evacuated in High River due to the rising flood waters. Since that first call to feed 100 evacuees on June 20, when two Emergency Disaster Services workers and the Calgary Community Response Unit (CRU) responded, we have had up to 8 CRU’s and hundreds of personnel & volunteers responding in Canmore, Morley, Exshaw, Drumheller, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary, High River, Blackie, Nanton, Okotoks, and Siksika Nation.

While for many areas life has returned to “normal” for those affected by the floods, life continues to present many challenges. In High River, over 90% of the community of 12,500 has been directly affected by the floods and The Salvation Army Disaster Assistance Centre has now been open for two weeks. We have set up trailers and c-can storage containers on the parking lot of The Salvation Army Community Church while the repairs to the church building, thrift store and Community & Family Services (foodbank) continue.

In the past two weeks, 1101 households have registered for assistance which has includes a food hamper, clothing items, gift card, and furniture vouchers, as well as other miscellaneous items such as work gloves, diapers and cleaning supplies. A CRU remains on site and is serving on average 70 hot meals per day, and 120 people with snacks and hydration.

We are very grateful to our volunteers, supporters, and staff for their generosity and kindness with the ongoing relief efforts. Together, we’re Giving Hope Today.