City businesses help out Calgarians.
Red Cross has collected $5.4 million
Edmonton businesses are pouring millions of dollars into the southern Alberta flood relief as efforts shift to recovering from the widespread devastation.
The Canadian Red Cross has accumulated $5.4 million in donations for its flood response since Tuesday afternoon. About 75 volunteers are assisting with recovery efforts, while 350 volunteers in Alberta are on call.
The support from the community has been outstanding with considerable donations coming in from corporate sponsors, said communications volunteer Courtney Wilson.
“The phone lines have been going off the hook. The community has really come together from what I’ve seen,” Wilson said.
The Red Cross is easing into the recovery phase of the disaster, although the focus is still on offering immediate necessities, including shelter, food and water, she said.
Wilson emphasized that cash donations are the most efficient way for people to assist with the flood relief.
The Edmonton Eskimos are parlaying that message into a newly launched signature campaign that aims to generate $50,000 by this weekend. The Eskimos have already donated $10,000 to the Red Cross and will donate $1 for every signature made on four banners.
The banners will make stops at the Taylor Swift concerts Tuesday and Wednesday at Rexall Place. They will end their tour Saturday at the 2013 kickoff game between the Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
When put together, the four banners will make an emblem that says “Alberta Strong.”
Eskimos on-field host and organizer Chris Scheetz estimates the banner — 10 metres wide and 10 metres long — can accommodate about 50,000 signatures.
“My heart tells me that is going to be just as valuable to some people as all the money in the world,” Scheetz said.
“It’s going to probably inspire a lot of people who sound like they might need a little bit of inspiration down the road.”
Meanwhile, local transportation officials sent 10 street sweepers and operators Tuesday morning to assist with recovery efforts at Calgary’s request. Two bridge inspectors and a bridge inspection truck will follow suit and help assess damage to infrastructure in Calgary, while a senior roadways supervisor will oversee their efforts.
The rivalry between the two cities continued to erode as Northlands announced a donation of $25,000 to the Red Cross and offered assistance to Calgary Stampede officials.
Although massive flooding has damaged the Stampede grounds, officials have confirmed the 10-day exhibition will kick off as planned on July 5.
“We’re ready to go and help them with cleanup and rebuild if they need it,” said Jennifer Sheehan, public relations manager at Northlands.
“We know how much effort goes into planning an event ... and we can’t imagine what they’re dealing with right now.”
Those hardships extend to First Nations reserves in southern Alberta. The Aboriginal Multimedia Society in Edmonton will deliver Wednesday a utility truck with toiletries and snacks for the communities of Siksika, Tsuu T’ina and Morley.
Siksika has been especially devastated by the flooding. About 1,000 people in the community of 6,000 have been left homeless after the river covered some areas with more than a metre of flood water.
“It kind of takes your breath away,” said Paul Macedo, AMMSA’s director of publishing, on the outpouring of support.
“Many of these people living on these reserves are barely making ends meet and now they’re losing that. But something like this renews your faith in the human spirit.”
Additional donations to the Canadian Red Cross have been announced by Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. ($100,000), the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees ($25,000) and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta ($20,000).
But the million of dollars donated will only put a dent in the preliminary $3 billion to $5 billion damage estimate pegged Monday by a Bank of Montreal analyst.
Insured losses are expected to make up roughly $2.25 billion to $3.75 billion of the final tally.
The provincial government announced Monday the first $1-billion injection of disaster relief, which will come from the province’s contingency account, an emergency account. Premier Alison Redford said the province faces five to 10 years of rebuilding to recover from the floods.
Donations to the Canadian Red Cross can be made on their website or by calling 1-800418-1111.