Council Votes For Disaster Relief

The city is one step closer to getting some financial help from the provincial government. City Council has voted to ask the province to declare Thunder Bay a disaster area as the result of this week's devastating rain storm. It's so we are able to apply for funding under the province's Disaster Relief Assistance Program. City Manager Tim Commisso is also going to see what kind of funding would be available from Ottawa. Some new information which came from Wednesday's special council meeting included a revelation from Councillor Ken Boshcoff that insurance experts have told him there could be 3 to 5 thousand claims filed and that total damage could be between 30 to 50 million dollars.

Flood Warning Update

The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is continuing the flood warning for Thunder Bay, Oliver Paipoonge, and Conmee Township due to high water levels on the Kam River.  All waterways with the exception of the Kam are continuing to decline.  The Neebing River water level has dropped 3 metres since cresting Monday night.  The Neebing-McIntyre Floodway is expected to stop diverting flow overnight. 

Con College Home To Safety Training

A provincial safety association is setting up a training facility in Confederation College's Dorion Building.  Spokesperson Al Beattie says opening up a Northern office made sense since most of their courses were originally only available in Southern Ontario.  Courses will include working at great heights, working with high voltage electricity and transporting dangerous goods. 

Salvation Army Red Cross Team Up

The Salvation Army and the Canadian Red Cross are joining forces to launch a national appeal for funds for flood victims. Salvation Army Major Merv Halvorsen says they're on the street helping people get access to food. To donate to the Thunder Bay Flood Fund call 1-800-725-2769.

East End Church Serves As Help Centre

Neighbours are pulling together in the East End in the wake of the devastating flooding that has hit most of their homes. A centre has been set up at St. Peter's Church so affected residents can pick up free clothing, food and water if they need it. It's been run by group of people who are headed by Shannon Hobbs and a lot of people and organizations are providing the goods.  Hobbs says she is overwhelmed by the generosity.

East Enders Still Pumping Out Flooded Basements

Residents of the East End continue to pump water from their flooded basements for the third day. The breakdown at the nearby sewage plant is causing lots of heartaches for many like Maria Bell on McPherson Street. She says she was hoping someone from the city could come by to have a look but to find out how they're doing, but that hasn't happened. Bell says she had up to four feet of water in her basement and lost a lot of personal items

No Limit On Garbage During Flood

During this state of emergency the city is removing the bag limit for garbage collection. It means until further notice, you can put out as much garbage as you need to for your weekly pick up. Along with that the city is offering a special collection service for large items by calling 625-2195

Pumping Continues At Treatment Plant

The City is busy pumping out water and debris from the crippled Atlantic Avenue Water Treatment Plant.  General Manager Darryl Matson hopes crews will be able to inspect the plant tomorrow.

The city is still asking you to avoid flushing water down the drains.

East End Residents Unite

Acts of kindness continue in the city's East End. Resident, Jessica Sharp was the first to open her home to neighbours in need. Since Monday, the "Safe Place To Go" has been moved to St. Peter's Church. Sharp says people in the East End, whose basements have flooded, are still in need of number of important items. Sharp also says, in addition to sump pumps, people are in need of gas as well in order to run them.

Hyer On CP Rail Back To Work

Back-to-work legislation to end a week-long strike by C-P Rail workers is now headed to the Conservative-dominated Senate for royal assent.  Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer says the Federal Government is setting a precedent.  Hyer says the Labour Minister is meddling and shouldn't force CP Rail employees back to work.

Conmee Buses Affected Wednesday

There will be no school bus transportation this morning in Conmee Township. The Lakehead Public School Board is also saying that Kakabeka Falls and Crestview schools will re-open today. For the Thunder Bay Catholic and C.S.D.C. Aurores Boreales, all schools are open today but they are saying to expect some bus delays for those coming in from rural areas.

Hyer Talks To Toews About Flood

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer just wrapped up a chat with Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.  Hyer says the Federal Government has money set aside for flood assistance but it will only flow if matching Provincial funds are available.  Hyer adds Thunder Bay's Military Reservists can also be deployed to help flood victims but only if the Provincial Government requests it.

Province Take Active Role In Relief

The provincial government is taking an active role in helping communities hit by this week's flooding. Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says a variety of ministries are helping out all the affected areas to make sure they can recover from the storm. Meantime, Gravelle suggests there could be hope for victims of basement flooding in Thunder Bay, but the city will have to act. He says the province's Disaster Relief Program is where they can apply for assistance. Gravelle says the city has to make the request, which they haven't done yet.

Stats Can Release Age Info

Thunder Bay's population is dominated by Seniors.  That's the latest findings in the 2011 census from Statistics Canada.  Spokesperson Vince Dale says we have a higher population of seniors than the National average.  Senior citizens now represent 17.2 per cent of the population of Thunder Bay.

City Talks Flood Insurance

Hundreds of people have flooded basements in the City.  City Spokesperson Darryl Matson says people who are worried about their insurance claims can contact the City's Sewer and Water Department or their Insurance provider.  Meanwhile, Matson says they don't know if the City's insurance will cover the cost of the destruction at the water treatment plant.

Charities Fill A Need

Two local charity groups are working to help the people affected by basement flooding, especially in the East End.   The Red Cross volunteers are working to redirect some affected people to proper housing, while the Salvation Army is operating services for lunch and dinner with its mobile van.

Flood Warning Remains

There's no change to the region's flood warning from the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority. Chair Bill Bartley says while the water levels are starting to go down we are not out of the woods yet.
Bartley says the amount of water that has gone through the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway has been the most since it was opened.

Horwath Offers Help

The Province's NDP leader says she is ready to help the city in any way she can. Andrea Horwath says she made the offer to Mayor Hobbs when she called him by phone this morning. She said that if Hobbs ever found the provincial response to our emergency wasn't to his liking she could assist. Horwath says she has been keeping an eye on the flood problems here.

Baggage Building Set To Open June 15th

The owners of the Painted Turtle Art Shop will run the new Baggage Building Arts Centre at Prince Arthur's Landing starting June 15th.  Lorraine Cull and Angela Jensen will provide interim programming this summer. The City entered into an agreement with the two women recently.

Conmee Remains On Alert

Conmee Township remains in a State of Emergency due to this week's flooding.  Reeve Kevin Holland says Highway 11-17 remains closed between Highway 590 and Highway 102.  All roads within the community are now open to local traffic only with the exception of portions of Mokomin Road East and Hume Road.