Our Work

Floods hit southern Alberta

July 8, 2010

Samaritan’s Purse Canada will complete its clean-up operations in Medicine Hat and surrounding areas on July 9 after assisting 76 families that were hurt  by extensive flooding.

The Christian relief organization assessed damage to homes and coordinated local volunteers to help clean up by removing soggy drywall and insulation, administering mould remediation, and helping people get their homes to the point where they are ready to restore or rebuild.

“In a word, the Samaritan’s Purse response has been fabulous,” said Varley Weisman, Manager of Social Development for the City of Medicine Hat. “The team was respectful of the homeowners and everyone had a real down-to-earth, let’s-get-down-to-business approach, which was incredible. Everyone the team helped was very appreciative.”

Volunteers from all around the Medicine Hat area have provided more than 1,200 hours of service to Samaritan’s Purse to help those affected by the flooding in and around Medicine Hat. .

“The volunteers have put in long hours doing hard, tiring work,” said Brent Davis, Samaritan’s Purse’s Relief Teams Coordinator. “It was really overwhelming to see them working so hard and then take time to listen and comfort the homeowners.”

Samaritan’s Purse came to help in response to an invitation by the City of Medicine Hat.

“The Samaritan’s Purse team understood what people in need needed,” says Weisman. “Their level of service for the people affected by the flooding was excellent.” 

 

June 24, 2010

Samaritan’s Purse Canada is sending its Disaster Relief Unit to Medicine Hat, Alberta, to help local emergency officials and residents clean-up after heavy rains caused severe flooding.

Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s Disaster Relief Unit – a specially equipped tractor-trailer unit – will arrive Thursday and become an emergency operations base in Medicine Hat, a city of 61,000 about 300 kilometers south east of Calgary. Samaritan’s Purse will work with local churches, agencies, and volunteers from the region to manage and provide clean-up and other recovery assistance to residents. Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief completed a deployment to Leamington, ON this week, after a tornado struck the community.

“The City of Medicine Hat has been working on a response to help the people affected by these floods and when we became aware of the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Unit it seemed like a natural fit,” said Varley Weisman, the manager of Social Development for Medicine Hat. “The effort of our services and of volunteers, coordinated through Samaritan’s Purse, will be really helpful in bringing people the assistance they need in a quick manner.”

Anyone in the Medicine Hat area requiring free flood clean-up assistance from Samaritan’s Purse can call 403-502-8900.

The Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Unit is outfitted with essential disaster recovery equipment including generators, pumps, hand tools, and safety gear for volunteers. It serves as a base for volunteer response, and is equipped with a self-contained office, communications system, and other supplies.

“Our first focus will be to send volunteers to those most in need – the elderly, the disabled, or those unable to clean up their homes on their own,” said Brent Davis, Samaritan’s Purse’s Relief Teams Coordinator. “But we also want to be available to anyone who needs any help getting their homes back to normal.”

Volunteers Needed
Samaritan’s Purse invites volunteers from southern Alberta to join its clean-up efforts in the Medicine Hat area. Volunteers will pump out water, remove soggy debris, treat homes for mould, and other recovery work. Safety equipment is provided and volunteers will receive free on-site training. To volunteer, please call 403-502-8900.

Ways You Can Help
Pray Please pray for spiritual and physical help for those who have been affected by the flooding. Pray for safety for Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers as they start the clean-up.		Give Help Samaritan’s Purse equip volunteers to provide disaster relief to victims of tornados and other natural disasters. Donate Here.