Donations needed for N.B. flood victims

Relief organizations are asking for donations of money, gift cards — and even firewood —to help people cope with the aftermath of major flooding in southwestern New Brunswick.

Volunteers are pumping out floodwater from homes in Bonny River and St. George, some of the areas hardest hit by last Monday's deluge of rain.

Chuck Brown, head of communications for the volunteers, said homeowners are in dire need of firewood.

"We're asking for anyone that has any to spare to drop them off at 23 Magaguadavic Dr. in St. George and we'll make sure that it will get out to people who need it," said Brown.

He said many of the flooded homes are heated by wood alone, but the firewood piles were no match for the torrential rains.

"As people's homes flooded, if they had wood stored outdoors. I mean … for some firewood to get caught up in this flooding, it's certainly no surprise when you see how high the water was," said Brown.

Red Cross at work

Meanwhile, the Canadian Red Cross is asking for donations to help all those affected by the flooding.

"We distribute assistance either in the form of vouchers or gift cards," said Bill Lawlor, director of disaster management at the Red Cross for Atlantic Canada. "So people can have the ability to buy what they need and what's most appropriate for their family situation."

Karl Wilmot, with the province's Emergency Measures Organization, said the storm that hit southwestern New Brunswick was the biggest one in his memory.

"It's something I don't recall in my longtime memory and there are a lot of people who are around who are a lot older than I am that are having a difficult time remembering any event like this that would have happened anywhere in the province," said Wilmot.

"I heard a suggestion the other day that the last time anything like this happened in the St. George, St. Stephen areas was back in 1923," said Wilmot.

The province will hold two town meetings in the area Sunday. They're designed to explain the details of a new disaster financial assistance program to residents and small businesses affected by the flood.

Wilmot will be one of four officials at the information sessions that will run between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Stephen High School, then from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Fundy High School in St. George.

The officials will explain who is eligible to be helped by the program, and what it will cover.

"It will not cover all the losses that you suffered, but we look at it as you being able to get back into your house, do repairs to the house that are required so you can live there again," said Wilmot.

Richard McKay of Stationery Plus said his business lost at least $20,000 in supplies. He said he's pleased this program may cover some of his costs.

"Basically, anything that was below the two-foot mark we lost," said McKay. "Fortunately we had quite a bit of it up, like most our computers, we lost a few of those.

"Any of the inventory above that level was fine, but we have one of the large dumpsters that is full and it's destroyed inventory, so that gives you sort of a way of measuring how much actually did get lost."

Small businesses may be able to get government money to cover some of the cost of equipment and stock destroyed by the flood.

The program will offer residents up to $4,000 each for immediate needs.

The federal government is looking for temporary housing for those whose properties are in the worst shape.

It will also help with health and safety inspections, reconnection of electrical services and free water testing.