Business

Evacuees from Alberta fire start receiving money

Posted May 11, 2016 7:00 am

By RACHEL LA CORTE and ROB GILLIES

Fort McMurray, Alberta, fire chief Darby Allen speaks to members of the media at a fire station in Fort McMurray, Monday, May 9, 2016. A break in the weather has officials optimistic they have reached a turning point on getting a handle on the massive wildfire. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte) The Associated Press

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - More than 80,000 wildfire evacuees will start receiving direct financial assistance Wednesday from the Alberta government and the Canadian Red Cross as officials asked for patience in getting residents home following the devastating wildfire in Canada's oil sands town of Fort McMurray.

Canadian Red Cross chief executive Conrad Sauve said in a news conference that each adult will receive $600 Canadian (US$467) and each child will get $300 Canadian (US$234) in what he called the most important and fastest direct cash transfer in the organization's history. It totals $50 million Canadian. (US$39 million).

That's in addition to $1,250 Canadian (US$973) per adult and $500 Canadian (US$390) per dependent that Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said will be available starting Wednesday. Notley asked those who don't need emergency funding to let those who do line up first for debit cards. The newly announced Red Cross payments will also start Wednesday and will be via electronic transfers.

"We already know that the damage resulting from the wildfires will be in the billions and it will take years to recover, but also know that the needs of those affected are immediate," Sauve said.

Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen said the wildfire is outside of the city, and moving south. He said residents can't come back until it is safe and workers have checked power and water supplies. The fire burned about 2,400 homes and buildings but 90 percent of the city was saved.

Those with intact homes have pressed to return much sooner. Notley has warned police will turn people away if they try to enter before the city is reopened.

Notley said she will meet with her cabinet on Thursday to discuss when some residents can return but repeated her vow to get information to people within two weeks of last Monday.

About $67 million Canadian (US$52 million) has been donated to the Red Cross thus far and both the provincial and federal governments have said they will match what is given to the Red Cross.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will visit Fort McMurray on Friday, announced he has created an ad hoc cabinet committee to coordinate federal recovery and rebuilding efforts.

___

Eds: Gillies contributed from Toronto.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley speaks to members of the media at a fire station in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Monday, May 9, 2016. A break in the weather has officials optimistic they have reached a turning point on getting a handle on the massive wildfire. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte) The Associated Press

Canada's Alberta Premier Rachel Notley speaks to the media after meeting with oilfield executives at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, Canada, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Notley said the massive oil sands mines north of Fort McMurray have not been damaged. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press

Canada's Alberta Premier Rachel Notley speaks to the media along with Suncor President and CEO Steve Williams, right, and President and CEO Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Tim McMillan, left, at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, Canada, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Notley said the massive oil sands mines north of Fort McMurray have not been damaged. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press

Destroyed townhouses in the Abasand neighborhood of Fort McMurray, Alberta, are viewed after a massive wildfire, Monday, May 9, 2016. A break in the weather has officials optimistic they have reached a turning point on getting a handle on the massive wildfire. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Business Content Providers Nation and World News

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.