Residents of some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods are frustrated that, two months after others started moving back to the northern Alberta city, they still haven鈥檛 been told whether they can return home or start to rebuild.
Sandra Legacy, a resident of the hard-hit Abasand neighbourhood, lost her home in the fire that forced the city鈥檚 90,000 residents to evacuate in early May. Residents started returning to the city June 1st.
鈥淧eople throughout Canada think that Fort McMurray is back to normal,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are so far from normal.鈥�
Legacy said she realizes there are safety and environmental issues to consider, but she doesn鈥檛 understand why it has taken so long for officials to start clearing debris from Abasand.
Legacy pointed out that Canadians have donated generously to disaster relief 鈥� a total figure is expected to be announced Wednesday 鈥� and she wants to see the money used to remove debris. 鈥淗elp us clean up this mess!鈥� she said.
Adding to Legacy鈥檚 anxiety is an insurance policy with a clause that requires her to start rebuilding within one year of the disaster.
Jennifer Skinner鈥檚 Abasand home is still standing, but she too hasn鈥檛 been told when 鈥� or if -- she will be allowed to move back. She鈥檚 allowed to visit, but not to take items like her baby boy鈥檚 drum set and recliner.
Skinner said she wants answers. 鈥淎m I going to be spending Christmas with our two-year-old in our apartment that we have rented or spending it at home here with our family and friends?鈥�
In the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo鈥檚 Deputy Director of Emergency Management Chris Graham said the region needed to finalize a safety plan before debris-removal could start in the neighbourhoods of Abasand, Beacon Hill and Waterways.
The region said in that update that building permits for the neighbourhoods cannot legally be issued until the province鈥檚 Chief Medical Officer of Health deems them fit for habitation, a point that Wood Buffalo reiterated in an email to CTV Edmonton on Tuesday.
Wood Buffalo鈥檚 July 21 update stated debris removal is 鈥渁nticipated to be complete by September 30, 2016.鈥�
Flooding cleanup continues
Meanwhile, residents have who have moved back into their homes after the month-long evacuation in May found their homes flooded over the weekend. At least 50 homes were affected.
鈥淎ll my clothes (were) ruined,鈥� said April King, who lives in a basement apartment. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to wash them but it has a smell to it. All my bedroom furniture, everything is gone.鈥�
Rob Roy, a restoration contractor with DKI, said he was helping 400 residents deal with fire and smoke damage when he got dozens of flood related calls on Sunday.
鈥淭hey have about seven feet of water in this basement,鈥� he said, pointing to one home inundated on Sunday. 鈥淭he fridge is floating,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty crazy.鈥�
Roy said Fort McMurray is a 鈥渟trong community pulling together to do what we鈥檝e got to do鈥� but 鈥渨eather wise it would be nice (to have) a break.鈥�
Municipal Councillor Keith McGrath also told CTV News Channel on Tuesday that although his city could 鈥渦se a break,鈥� the cleanup will 鈥渕ake our community stronger.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e not quitters,鈥� he added.
With a report from CTV Edmonton鈥檚 Breanna Karstens-Smith
