Ray Fox vents frustration over evacuation

Evacuees are finally returning home from North Battleford, but the effort to provide them a temporary place to stay did not go smoothly — something councillor Ray Fox pointed out at city council Monday.

Upwards of over 400 evacuees from the northern wildfires from La Loche and Turner Lake had been staying in local hotel accommodations, receiving support from the provincial Emergency Social Services and the Red Cross over the past three weeks.   

But while Fox joined others at the council table in lauding the City’s own efforts to accommodate the influx of people, he also pointed out there had been some big problems.

Fox noted “a serious lack of communication between various agencies when dealing with people.”

“And I believe, for one reason or another, within our own emergency measures and emergency plans, the disaster planning or emergency planning that we have, I don’t know if this kind of fit that model that we have with the City of North Battleford. I know that we have a plan that we want to make all of our people safe and all of that sort of stuff, but I think this one kind of hit us a little bit below the belt in the sense that … you cannot really plan something like this, because it’s an evacuation. It’s a disaster, basically, to some of the people who were being brought into our city.”

Fox said the lack of communication between agencies “caused some pretty serious problems for the evacuees.”

“The trouble I have with that … is that they’re not going to go home and say ‘the Red Cross didn’t do well by me,’ or that ‘the certain motel did not follow through to their promise to me as a customer.’ But what they’re going to think is ‘North Battleford did this,’” said Fox.

“And I don’t think that’s fair to us. I don’t believe we want to leave people with the impression that we didn’t care.”

Fox made clear he believed the community had done “our absolute best, I have no question about that at all. However, the lack of communication and, I'm going to say, the outright lack of understanding of the people coming into our communities, was disastrous.”

Fox noted that Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs had “played an active role” to mediate some of the problems going on. He adds that his wife had “heard an earful” from people about the issues as well.

“It was not organized, it was not well thought out,” summed up Fox.

He wanted to see some kind of evaluation done of what happened. Mayor Ian Hamilton pledged that would be done.

“All the players will come together and do exactly what you’re asking,” said Hamilton, adding “that has been committed to us and we would be included.” 

Councillor Cathy Richardson added that she wanted to make sure “there are some people there who have the other side, that it’s not just the agencies who may be representing those other issues.”

Councillor Ryan Bater pointed out it had not been an easy situation.

“We were dealing with an emergency,” said Bater. “It’s going to bring tension, and emotion, and it’s not going to be comfortable for the people who were evacuated nor for the front-line people who have to assist them.”

He also praised those agencies that did help out and also the fire department who went up north to assist the effort.

He also thanked the front-line staff in the hospitality industry whose lives were “turned upside down” and “they had to rearrange their operations and work around the clock in order to provide as much service as they possibly could. All in all, people are going home, which is a good thing.”

Earlier, City Manager Jim Puffalt thanked many city officials and employees for their efforts during what was a “very difficult and trying time.”

“We want to thank the whole city for welcoming and looking after the evacuees as best as possible,” said Puffalt.

He noted Fire Chief Albert Headrick worked tirelessly to organize events and help as much as possible, and also thanked Leisure Services for hosting those events. He adds a more formal thank you is to come later on.

Tuesday afternoon, the City issued a further press release in which they announced that the last of the evacuees who were in North Battleford have left the emergency accommodations provided by Canadian Red Cross and Emergency Social Services as of 3:50 p.m. 

“Our first concern has always been about the safety and well being of our neighbours, friends and family to the north,” Mayor Hamilton stated.

“As they return home, we wish them the best and that the fires that raged have spared their belongings.”

Hamilton’s statement also paid tribute to the various agencies who assisted in facilitating evacuees in North Battleford.

“Emergency Social Services and the Canadian Red Cross did an outstanding job sheltering evacuees in North Battleford. What they were able to do in a short span of time should be commended.”