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August 21, 2008
(Red Deer, Alberta) – The City of Red Deer has formally applied to the Province of Alberta for disaster recovery assistance on behalf of the citizens impacted by the storm which occurred on August 8.
Over 175 calls were received from citizens who were impacted by the storm in the areas of Deer Park, Rosedale and surrounding neighbourhoods. Citizens were asked to register damages caused by overland flooding in order to help The City put together an application to the province.
“We knew that citizens had been impacted by the storm and needed to gauge the extent of the damages that occurred in the city to support our application for assistance,” said Don Huestis, Disaster Services Coordinator. “Our main concern now is that citizens are taking steps to make their homes safe and clean while waiting to hear back from the province on funding.”
Red Deer citizens, who have not initiated restoration and clean up of their homes, should do so immediately to ensure protection of their health and prevent further damage to their homes and belongings.
"Abundant moisture will allow mold to grow and produce musty odours and potentially harmful allergens. Residents need to be mindful to dry out surfaces and discard absorbent materials as soon as possible so mold does not have a chance to become established," said David Brown, Manager, Environmental Health of the David Thompson Health Region.
With up to 40,000 reported cases in Canada each year, basement flooding is a serious problem in many parts of the country. Damages resulting from a flooded basement average $3,000 to $5,000, and can often be a lot more. In addition to the mess and inconvenience, flooding can also cause health hazards and lead to structural damage.
For more information about cleanup, visit the David Thompson Health Region website http://www.dthr.ab.ca/.
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For more information, contact:
Don Huestis David Thompson Health Region
Disaster Services Coordinator 403-341-8622
The City of Red Deer
403-342-8258
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