More flooding leads to disaster relief funding request

Band chief and council for Blood Tribe First Nation will be making application to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for disaster relief funding after three separate incidences of flooding on the southern Alberta First Nation in less than two months.

“The chief will be presenting the numbers when we have them, but that will take a little while. But they’ve already started on (preliminary) work,” said Rick Tailfeathers, director of communication with Blood Tribe band.

In three separate incidences, the most recent mid-June, and earlier in the beginning of May and then near the end of that same month, nearly 300 people have been evacuated because of flooding of their homes. Repair work had only just gotten underway from the first incident when flooding hit the second and third times.
Tailfeathers also noted that snow damage to some houses in December already had repair crews on the move.

The most recent flooding was caused by torrential downpours which covered southern Alberta. At the end of May, heavy snowfall and rain combined to increase ground water on still frozen earth and more basements flooded, roofs leaked and furnaces were damaged. Flooding in early May was caused by a snowstorm that hit the same part of the province, which resulted in widespread power outages. Some homes on the Blood Tribe First Nation were without power for three days. The result was failed septic tanks and pumps and widespread back ups in basements.

Nearly 120 homes have been impacted.

Blood Tribe clean-up crews responded to sanitation concerns immediately and were able to bring most homes up to re-inhabitable shape after the first flood.

Red Cross, which has an office on the Blood Tribe First Nation, stepped in to provide temporary lodgings for 72 hours, as well as food and necessities where required.
Shirley Diaz, operations manager for Canadian Red Cross, said accommodations were provided in motels and hotels in communities surrounding Stand Off.

The Red Cross is the only outside agency that is part of the Blood Tribe’s emergency response team. Red Cross has had an office on the First Nation for 10 years and has two staff members and eight trained volunteers. All employees and volunteers are Blood Tribe members.
Tailfeathers said emergency shelters were opened in Moss Lake and Stand Off, to provide temporary accommodations.

Adding to the woes of the Blood Tribe are washed out roads and the one bridge the First Nation maintains was also covered with water and shut down.

Work to clean up and start repairs on homes has already gotten underway.

“We can’t wait for government funding. We have to respond immediately,” said Tailfeathers.
Similar flooding happened last spring.

“The past two years it’s been very bad,” said Tailfeathers.
Tailfeathers said he doesn’t know a dollar figure to go along with the damage. While the Blood Tribe will cover clean up costs, it is hoped repair costs will be handled by INAC through disaster funding.

Glen Luff, spokesman with the Alberta INAC office, said the department hasn’t yet received application from the Blood Tribe.