Showing posts with label fort mcmurray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fort mcmurray. Show all posts

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Raging fire in Fort McMurray, Alberta: look for the helpers

UPDATES: Despite the fire increasing in size, they are moving people away, relocating them farther away, especially to Edmonton. This city has opened up its heart to these traumatized refugess. Even some Syrian refugees have been helping fire victims. I'm looking for the helpers and the heroes.
The Red Cross has been given $44 million for this crisis. The fed will match this amount.

Sadly, there is no power, gas, water or hydro, in the fire zones. Stores are not open. There is no infrastructure in place. The fire is still out of control. It will be days until they evaluate the situation, and make the city safe again.

I really appreciated the comforting words of Rachel Notley, the premier of Alberta. "We have your backs."
Many have been evacuated to the nearest city, Edmonton. Kids are being welcomed into schools, which is a very positive move. It's some sense of normalcy for them. All evacuees have found temporary shelter, and supplies are being flown into the area.



#ymmfire has created superheros out of the operators behind @RMWoodBuffalo https://t.co/DuLwt2Pa0b pic.twitter.com/MiSVW3Ctdb
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) May 7, 2016

CAF members fly a CH-146 Griffon to view the damage created by wild fires. #FortMcMurray #ymmfire #FortMacFire pic.twitter.com/b03Ugy0Wyw
— Canadian Forces (@CanadianForces) May 6, 2016

Social Media has been fabulous for all affected.





Refugees are Canadian Human Capital
This is why we welcome them to Canada

Look for heroes






I've been following the devastating fires in Alberta. The news can be depressing. I am searching for the good stories within this terrible ongoing event.

Our Canadian news is filled with horrific scenes of totally burned out communities. People have fled with little and/or a suitcase. The good news is that, so far, no one has died or been seriously hurt. They've got a fair number of fires in B.C., the province next door, but Ontario is sending some firefighters.


The problem is in the geography of this place. Fort McMurray had one highway going through (#63), running north to south. North of the town are mining camps, as well as other businesses. Suncor and Syncrude have had to shut down due to evacuations.

People in these camps to the north have been told not to go south.



So far, 88,000 have been evacuated.



Avatar
Alberta Government@YourAlberta
Information for Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees will be posted here alberta.ca/emergency.cfm and will updated regularly. #ymmfire #ymm
They say that 10,000 people evacuated to the north to the camps, while those in the south are going farther south.

Hotels to the south have taken in refugees, and citizens are offered empty homes.


They've run out of gas for 200km along autoroute 63.




Some have managed to take pets, others have been told to register with the SPCA who will try to take care of them.



The Red Cross is taking financial donations for food and water. They don't have the resources to take goods, at this point. They are looking for donation at redcross.ca

Red Cross Alberta is registering those who have been displaced so that worried family members can find good news.

The Feds have agreed to send military helicopters, as well as personnel, who are on their way.
There are 250 firefighters there and 300 RCMP on their way to assist.
It's not been controlled yet.
View on twitter


View on Twitter


The Weather Network has collected some tweets.

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