High River residents tired of uncertain post-flood future

A High River homeowner and his tenant say they are fed up with waiting to hear whats to become of their flood-devastated residence.

• High River residents say flood money not flowing fast enough

Until floodwaters engulfed it in June, Peggy Smithson was sharing a house in the town with her best friend and landlord Sean Morrow.

More than three months later, the continued uncertainty over whether they can rebuild or have to move on has become unbearable, according to both Morrow and Smithson.

Its been hell, she said.

Despite being constantly on the phone, Morrow said he hasnt been able to get any answers.

They won't tell me nothing. Its top secret. So here I sit October month, Im on the outside looking in. And that isnt very funny actually, said Morrow.

If you knock it down, then knock it down. If you're not going to knock it down, then fix it.But don't just tell me you're going to call me back, and just ...very, very frustrating.

Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) official Tim Wilson said the government is working as fast as it can.

We are doing our best to respond to every call that comes in, he said.

The province says those who have already applied for DRP funding, but have not yet received a cheque, should call310-4455to check the status of their application.

Cam Hantiuk, a spokesman forTervita the company hired to remediatehomes in High River, said if residents have contacted the province and filled out the proper paperworktheir homes should have been assessed within a day or two.

"Weunderstand how the residents are feeling and we move as quickly as humanly possible when we get the direction," he said.

Tervita also has a hotline phone number at 587-363-2894

Long road to recovery

But the wait has already been too long according for Morrow, whose house has a fridge full of rotting food and mushrooms sprouting from the floorboards, he said.

Not everybody's going to have a happy ending. But an ending, one thing or another.Just tell me.

The Canadian Red Cross is still busy trying to help flood victims get on the road to recovery, said provincial director Jen McManus.

Case workers meet about 60 people every day at its temporary office at the High River rodeo grounds,McManus said.

She said the stress is really starting to show.

We're seeing that families and individuals coming out of, really, the adrenalin buzz of the first response, she said.

And the goodwill of community members has been phenomenal but we do know that that goodwill has been tested.

Canadians have donated more than $32 million to the Red Cross relief effort in southern Alberta, McManus said.

So far $13 million has been spent.