Life at standstill for flood victims

FREDERICTON • Hundreds of people in New Brunswick are out of their homes months after historic flood waters swept through the province, destroying buildings and inundating highways.

Bill Lawlor, director of the Canadian Red Cross in New Brunswick, said Tuesday 120 people are still in emergency accommodations while others have made alternate living arrangements until they can move back home.

“We had well over 300 people at the height of the evacuation and it’s gone down to as low as 70,” he said. “The number has gone up and down, but it’s stabilizing now and we’ll continue to see it decrease.”

The province said about 12,000 properties were affected by widespread flooding between late April and mid-May with dozens of homes and cottages beyond repair.

Lawlor said some residents only recently called the humanitarian organization after weeks of staying with relatives, friends and neighbours.

“Some thought it was a short-term situation, but eight weeks later they call us saying, 'I can’t couch surf anymore, I have children,’” he said, explaining the fluctuation in the number of people seeking emergency accommodations.

Thousands of flood victims have registered with the Red Cross, which has extended its deadline until July 13. The organization has raised a record $1.16 million in response to the flooding.

Geoffrey Downey, spokesman for the province’s public safety department, said 2,927 residents registered for health and safety inspections before the deadline last week.

The province has received 475 applications for disaster financial assistance and has not yet set a deadline on applications, he said.