Some Merritt flood evacuees still waiting for province’s help, city plans for return

Some evacuees from Merritt will soon be allowed to return home, while those who were sent to Kamloops when fleeing the flood say they are still waiting for emergency support from the province.

The City of Merritt has announced a three-phase “return home plan,” broken down into geographical areas. Phase 1 is set to start at noon Tuesday. Those who return are being asked to bring 72-hours worth of essentials, and will be on a boil water advisory and under evacuation alert. Hydro, gas, and internet service have been restored.

City of Merrit announces plan for return home after #BCFlood. 3 phases:
Phase 1: North of the RCMP Station
Phase 2: Between the RCMP Station and Nicola Avenue
Phase 3: South of Nicola Avenue
FULL PLAN: https://t.co/QF4PuJOU0I
Info line
1-877-655-0341
returnhome@merritt.ca

— Lasia Kretzel (@rhymeswpretzel) November 23, 2021

Derrick Francis and his wife left their home last Monday, the Coldwater River breached its banks, causing mass sewage back ups and prompting the evacuation order for the city of about 7,000.

After registering online for emergency support services, they were sent to the reception centre in Kamloops.

“I stood in line for four hours on Tuesday and registered in person. And they said, ‘make sure you don’t incur any expenses prior to us calling you back, and expect a call.’ We still haven’t received it,” he tells CityNews.

“Our hotel is full of evacuees and no one here has received a phone call. The system that they’re using here is actually sticky notes. They’re putting your name and phone number on a sticky note, and sticking it to a desk and saying you’ll get a call. ”

Francis is paying out of pocket for essentials, like food and shelter. While frustrating, his main concern is for others.

“We were able to get a hotel room, we have a credit card and other means to carry ourselves,” he says.

“I’m worried about the people sleeping in cars and who came up on buses that are experiencing the same thing that we are. I spoke to a single mom with three children and she’s just beside herself, she said I can’t incur this. I can’t incur these costs. Of course, we’re all stressed, then down when you don’t have the support that the government has promised — it adds to it for sure.”

When speaking to people who were sent to other places like Kelowna or Salmon Arm, Francis says he’s been told they were given vouchers right away for what they need. For people like Francis who have been able to afford what they need, the worry is that they won’t get reimbursed.

“We’re $700 into this, and if there’s no compensation for anything before we receive our call, you know, we’re looking at $1,000 — if they call us at all,” he says.

His wife works at a seniors’ home, and Francis says while those residents have been resettled in Kamloops, they have not received any additional support.

“We haven’t got any vouchers for them to go out and pick up small items for them, toiletries, and that kind of thing. We’ve had to go out and purchase those on our own and make sure that they’re looked after. ”

And Francis says he’s been stuck going in circles when trying to get answers.

“We’ve gone back twice in person and they just said, ‘You have to wait for your phone call, please don’t keep coming back,’ Francis says, adding he’s heard people volunteering at the centre have broken down in tears because they don’t have answers for the people coming in.

“When I called the government emergency services, he said, our best bet is to go back and speak to them. And I said, ‘Well, they’re asking us not to come back because they’re overwhelmed.'”

Asked about the situation in Kamloops Friday, B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth says he was aware of “challenges” people are having accessing support in that city.

“Those emergency supports are there and if there are challenges they will be dealt with, and the province is dealing with that,” he said.

Glenda Jansen was evacuated from Logan Lake due to wildfires this summer and went to stay with her parents in Merritt.

Less than six months later, her parents are staying with her because of the floods.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve got each other. Not everybody has that,” she says.

Jansen is seeing and hearing about the same issues at the emergency reception centre.

“A lot of people walked away with no support and it’s just a really sad situation,” she says.

“There are people who are vulnerable, who are picked up, who are bused from Merritt into Kamloops. I don’t know what happens to them when they get there, but I don’t think there’s anybody advocating for them. I just, I think people need to be supported through this. It’s traumatic, it’s stressful. A lot of people have lost their homes.”

With files from Aly Laube