The residents of flood-impacted communities such as Gainsborough, Redvers and Carnduff are beginning to make progress on the recovery front, but they still require assistance and will probably need it for quite some time.
As Estevan and area citizens learned in 2011, recovering from a flood can be a lot more painful and time consuming than the actual event itself. With that in mind, the Salvation Army in Estevan and within the province is making their presence felt when the call goes out.
Major Mike Hoeft, area commander for the relief efforts for the Army, said he has been in continual contact with the Carnduff emergency measures organization since July 1, a day or two after the heavy rains devastated several towns and regions of southeast Saskatchewan.
"We've been supplying clean water for workers in Gainsborough, we trucked about 3,000 pounds of water to them in early July," said Hoeft from his Moose Jaw office.
"On Monday, July 7 we sent two people to the recovery centre in Carnduff to help them manage the donations of items they were receiving. They've been getting requests for clothing, housewares and food."
Hoeft said even a month or two, won't see much easing of demand or pain, as flood victims begin to realize a lot of their furniture and household equipment is ruined, adding they'll need help in replacing them and they won't have insurance or other assistance programs to see them through the rough spots. The Provincial Disaster Assistance Program has its limitations too.
"Gainsborough was a main focus in the southeast. There was a group of people around there who got hit hard," Hoeft said.
The recovery centre in Carnduff was intending to wind down their operations on July 10, which meant ensuing calls for assistance would be directed to the Estevan Salvation Army offices where Lieuts. Brian and June Bobolo, their staff and volunteers would be ready to help "for as long as required," said Hoeft.
Hoeft said the Army made their presence felt in the Melville area as well, another hard-hit city and region. There, the focus was on cleaning out basements. They also helped in Grenfell and Balcarres, as they started to put their things and lives back together.
Residents of the James Smith Reserve, a First Nations community near Melfort, also were hit hard and the Prince Albert area Army was helping them out with food supplies and clothing.
"From July 10 on, requests from Carnduff and Gainsborough for instance, will be going to the Estevan Army and they'll be happy to help them through the next difficult stage," said Hoeft.
