Thunder Bay Experiences Flood Disaster
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Thunder Bay Experiences Flood

Thunder Bay Experiences Flood Disaster

 

by Scott A. Sumner

 Thunder Bay experienced a major flood disaster that caused the city  and partners to go into emergency mode. Things are improving now  although there will be  monthes of work ahead to get back to normal  for many residents in Thunder Bay.

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The Canadian Red Cross and The Salvation Army are scaling back relief  services as the focus shifts from immediate relief to longer-term  recovery efforts.

“This is a sign that conditions are getting better in our community,”  said Mayor Keith Hobbs. “We thank the Red Cross and Salvation Army  volunteers for all of their hard work. ”

The Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Control Plant continues to  process the normal flow and work is being done to repair areas  damaged by the flood, a process that will be ongoing for many months,  said Kerri Marshall, Manager of Environment for the City of Thunder Bay.

Water Bill Relief Available

Residential property owners affected by the flood can receive a  credit on their water bill by completing the form posted on the  City’s dedicated flood emergency web page.

Forms can be downloaded from ThunderBay.ca/flood (under Water Bill  Relief Form) and must be completed by Sept. 30, 2012.Users of the  City’s sanitary sewer system who were affected by the flood will  receive a $207 credit, while residential property owners who are not  connected to the sanitary sewer system (and were affected by the  flood) will receive a credit of $118.

In order to qualify for the water bill relief, residential property  owners must include one of the following: a copy of a flood insurance  claim, receipts from contractors that reference flood damage repairs,  photos of damaged property (for owners who don’t have insurance).

Disaster Relief Committee

Donations to the Thunder Bay Disaster Assistance Relief Fund can be  made at the Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre on River Street, the Canada  Games Complex, Volunteer Pool, Churchill Pool and the Victoriaville  Civic Centre Cashiers.

Only donations to the Disaster Relief Committee Fund will be matched  by the Province.

Claim forms will be  posted at Thunderbay.ca/flood.

Mayor Keith Hobbs, Thunder Bay. “  The community is getting better.  The Salvation Army and Red Cross are scaling back. Our biggest  concern is the sewage treatment plant that has other issues but is  progressing. We are estimating losses for homeowners at up to $100  million with up with 3000 homes affected. Red Cross says it is the  worst disaster in Ontario in 10 years. I know the city has stepped up  to the plate. When you look at the volume of water, 9 inches in a few  hours, it is a flood of proportions we haven’t seen before.  The most  affected areas are the East End, Intercity including Memorial Avenue  with businesses and Northwood. I got a 1-foot of water in my house  and I live on a hill in the Northward. We will do an independent  study to provide transparency and openness to the public. If we are  to blame we will tell you that but I don’t think we are. We need to  have independent people look at the event and the plant.”

  David St George from Red Cross in Sudbury “ We have had 359 client  cases and closed 316 of those so far. We can start to disengage some  of our operations. We have completed 12,449 hours of volunteer work  so far and have volunteers here from across the country. This is the  largest Red Cross response in Ontario in the last 10 years. We have  obtained $250,000 in fundraising. Thunder Bay has been a really  generous community.”

Tony Kennedy, area commander from North Bay to Thunder Bay for the  Salvation Army. “ We are scaling down our feeding program truck and  are moving from relieve to recovery.  You can still call the 345-6492  line.   I would like to thank the volunteers from Thunder Bay and I  commend them. We had 15 volunteers from out of town and 100 from  Thunder Bay. We are at $350,000 in donations to the Salvation Army.”

John Hay Fire Chief Thunder Bay. “  We are getting back to normal  activities and are confidant things will progress positively. There  will be debriefing meetings  upcoming when we will look at things we  can refine.”



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