Canada’s Minister of Emergency Management has approved a request for federal aid to help flood-ravaged regions in western Manitoba.
Eleanor Olszewski says, “We will continue to work with the province of Manitoba, local leaders and Indigenous partners to ensure that Manitobans have the support they need now and, in the weeks and months ahead, as the recovery continues.”
Support will include a small team of members of the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with logistical assistance and resource coordination.
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And within the next 24 hours, Team Rubicon Canada, a veteran-led disaster response organization, will deploy volunteers with military, emergency response and disaster recovery experience, and they will provide direct assistance on the ground.
Support from the Canadian Red Cross will continue and assistance will be provided to the Manitoba Emergency Coordination Centre.
One of the areas still in turmoil is the Swan Valley and Reeve of Swan Valley West Bill Gade says they are trying to save as many homes as possible.
“We have to remove the basements, take out the drywall and prevent the mold from taking over. We don’t want to tear down the houses,” Gade said. “And for that we just need volunteers, and of course the military is an option for that.”
Gade says it will cost a lot of money and time to make repairs to municipal infrastructure.
“We’re going to be over $10 million in our municipality and many times more than all the others. It’s just unimaginable how much this is going to cost.”
