'I'll stack 'em three and four high': Bishop's Falls native provides shelter to Fort Mac family
With her husband Audie stranded at an oilsands work camp, Cathy Harnum-Flynn has her own worries.
But that didn't stop the Bishop's Falls native from opening her home in Sherwood Park near Edmonton to others following the disastrous fires that forced a mass evacuation of Fort McMurray this week.
"When I knew people were out of their homes and needed a place, my door was open and I put it on Facebook that if I needed to stack 'em three and four high, I would do that. As long as I had room, anybody could come," Harnum-Flynn told CBC News Thursday.
Her offer of assistance was quickly answered by another family with strong Newfoundland connections.
Cory and Cheryl Norman are originally from Bonavista.
They've been building a life in Fort Mac for a decade, with a growing family consisting of Evan, 11, Ian, 7, and two-month-old Averi.
But it all came crumbling down on Tuesday when wild fires wiped out large parts of their community, including their family home.
They scrambled to safety with fire and smoke filling their rearview mirror.
They are now homeless, but have found shelter in Harnum-Flynn's spacious home.
"We're so blessed to have a province that's pulling together," she said of the massive relief effort that is underway in Alberta.
While it's been one of the most difficult times of their lives, the Normans are eternally grateful for the warmth and support.
"Everything that you worked for, 10 years, is done," Cory said. "It's all over. It's a new start, but the main thing is my family is here."
The future is uncertain for this young family, and they plan to take things one day at a time.
Cory is putting his faith in a higher power.
"God is with us, so that's the main thing," he said.
"We're just dealing with it. What else can you do," Cheryl added.
"It's hard, but we've got our family and that's all that matters."
One thing they are hopeful for is a future that includes Fort McMurray.
"We really love Alberta. I love Fort McMurray, so I'm hoping it will be rebuilt," she said.
"It's going to be even better. We're going to be even stronger as a family," Cory said. "It's going to be tough, but we've got lots of family and friends behind us and we'll do it."