![]() ![]() Guttman said she left her home with just her pets, medicine and a pair of undergarments. You're on edge a little bit more every day." "I think the unknown of this situation … those fears … affects you. Guttman said she is ready to go home and take a long shower. "Each day, it's harder than the day before," she said. The residents camping in the Spruce Grove Walmart parking lot say it is easier for them to buy necessities whenever they run short on supplies.Īlthough grateful to front-line workers, Guttman said she wasn't expecting to be out of her home for so long. "The community has been absolutely, incredibly wonderful, kind and generous with gifts of food and gift cards and … paper towels." "We're relatively comfortable," she said, sitting outside with her dog. Guttman's RV was among at least half a dozen that were parked in the lot Thursday afternoon. Since then, she has been camping in her sons' recreational vehicles in the parking lot of a Walmart in Spruce Grove, just outside Edmonton. "We hold many fond memories of our visits to Western Canada and know that those affected will rise to this challenge with customary Canadian strength, resilience and determination."Ī resident of Drayton Valley, Deborah Guttman, 70, recalled she was getting ready for bed on the night of May 4 when the order came in to evacuate the town, located about 130 kilometres west of Edmonton. "We send our most special thoughts and prayers to all those who have been displaced and who have lost their homes, businesses or property," the King said in a written statement released through the Governor General's office. The Alberta government announced it would join the federal government in a donation-matching program with the Canadian Red Cross for disaster relief efforts that would see every $1 donated become $3.Īlso Thursday, King Charles expressed sympathy for those affected by the blazes. "I've said we're not going to … provide the military to do that because that's not what they are there for." "They also asked, for example, that the Canadian Armed Forces would be deployed to provide security in evacuated communities and that's a policing function," Blair said. The military personnel will help support firefighting efforts, help in mop-up operations and aid in evacuating isolated communities.īlair said there is one request from Alberta that the military is not prepared to fulfil. Additional fire crews from British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Yukon have joined the fight in recent days. More than 16,000 people remained out of their homes, down from a high of nearly 31,000. ![]() There were 81 active wildfires as of Thursday afternoon, with 23 out of control. The troops are to go to the Grande Prairie, Fox Creek and Drayton Valley areas.Īlberta remained in a state of emergency, which was declared Saturday. Military resources are to be provided for two weeks initially, with a one-week extension possible if it's determined help is still needed. "They also asked for expertise in construction engineering … and the Canadian Armed Forces is located in Alberta and has that equipment and can do that job." "We are already moving resources into those communities from the Canadian Armed Forces and other resources to provide the assistance that they requested," he said. In Ottawa, federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair acknowledged the "unprecedented wildfire situation currently taking place in Alberta" and said the federal government has agreed to a request for assistance from the province. Canadian Forces personnel are being deployed to help with Alberta's early and intense wildfire season that has forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |