July 11, 2014
Manitoba Government Thanks Families, Military, Volunteers, Municipalities, Staff for Assistance During Flood Fight
Premier Greg Selinger today thanked Manitoba families, municipalities, provincial staff, numerous volunteers and the Canadian Armed Forces for joining the fight to protect people and property from the massive amount of floodwater moving through the province in the past week.
“We called for the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces to help us fight an unprecedented flood threat. The work and commitment of Brig.-Gen. Juneau and all the men and women in the Forces has been outstanding,” Premier Selinger said. “While we are not yet out of the woods, the immediate threat has passed and the military are able to begin their withdrawal. On behalf of all Manitobans, I thank members of the military, as well as provincial employees and volunteers, for responding with heroic efforts.”
At the peak of flood-fighting efforts, there were 500 members of the Canadian Armed Forces, more than 330 staff from Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, 20 staff from other government departments, 115 provincial department volunteers, 120 Manitoba Hydro volunteers and 75 redeployed forest firefighters from across the province supporting flood-fighting efforts. Staff from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency were also providing assistance.
The state of emergency affects the city of Portage la Prairie and the rural municipalities of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, St. François Xavier and Headingley. A mobile recovery office is now moving around southwest Manitoba and staff members are on hand to answer questions as well as take applications for disaster financial assistance.
“The provincial government will make every effort to help people get back on their feet again, with assistance from the federal government and community-based partners,” Premier Selinger said. “People in this province are resilient, hard-working and compassionate individuals who help their neighbours in a crisis.”
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