Calgary residents travel to Edmonton to demand help recovering from devastating N.E. hailstorm

Northeast Calgary residents are taking their concerns over a lack of response from the provincial government after a devastating hailstorm last month direct to the steps of the legislature today.

Around 40 residents and community leaders drove in a convoy from Calgary to the AlbertaLegislature to raise awareness of their ongoing situation.

They'll be armed with placards and signsanddemandinganswers to questions theysay are being ignoredby theMLAsthey electedas well as by the premier himself.

A violenthailstorm tore into siding and roofs and flooded streets in June, shattering the windows of homes, along withcar windshields and eavestroughs, leaving more than 70,000 homes and vehiclesseverely damaged.

More than a month later, manystreets in the worst hit neighbourhoodsappearno better,with extensive damage still on display.

The stormcaused $1.2 billion in damage and ranks as Canada's fourth costliest natural disaster, but residents say they've been shunned by politicians when it comes to them providing any meaningful help in moving forward.

"It's still like a bomb has come and hit this area, you won't recognize it," saidKhalilKarbani,a communityleader who lives inTaradale.

"Right now, we've sent three letters to the premier directly and spoken to MLAs and haven't had any proof that anything has been happening and we just want to be heard," said Karbani.

"Nothing'shappening, nothing's moved forward," he said.

The provincial government did announce disaster relief fundingfor residents who experienced overland flooding, but not for hail damage, insurance deductibles and sewer backupsthe real and costly issues for the majority of people impacted.

Some residents are struggling to paydeductibles and make repairs,facing financial hardships caused byCOVID-19 and the economic downturn that was in play before the virus or the storm struck.

"It's only helping 0.7 per cent of the victims that got hit on June 13th, so more than 99 per centaren't getting anything from that announcement from the province," said Karbani.

Calgary city council passed a motion proposed by Ward 5 Coun.George ChahalTuesday night calling for more support from the other levels of government.

"This storm warrants a comprehensive, multilevel response. The provincial and federal government have an important role to play in helping residents recover and mitigate future damage," he said in a release.

Residents like Karbani cite Alberta'sresponse to other majornatural disastersthe Calgary floodin 2013, wildfires that hit Slave Lake and Fort McMurray, as well as flood events in northern Alberta this spring wondering whythe northeast hasn't enjoyedthe same outpouring ofconcern and sympathy as well as financialassistance from government.

Flooding this year caused$228 million in insured damages in the Fort McMurray area, with theprovince launchingmultiple financial support programs for affected residents.

"We are suffering right now and nobody seems to be giving any empathy or sympathy towards us. We're not even getting heard, let alonegetting any relief," Karbani said.

Karbanihas beeninvolved in forminga hailstorm action committee, who are now asking Jason Kenney and the provincial governmentto sit down with them in a round table.

The group also wants a formal application made to the federal government for disasterrelief, and discussionaround the future of their insurance premiums in the wake of a mass of claims.

"There's multiple issues people who took cars down to a third party when COVID hit, homeowners withvery large deductibles, from $2,500 to $5,000, and now depreciation on the home, too," Karbani said.

Bills are piling up thatmany simply can't pay.

Karbani says even an interest-free loan of $5,000could help people pay deductibles or make repairs to their homes.

"We don't want handouts, we're proud in this area. But we do want financial help to get us back on our feet," he said.

Residents like Jason Fischer, who lives in Saddle Ridge, say many insurance claims are still being made.

"Our insurance claim hasn't been submitted yet, they're so far behind. So that $1.2-billion figure is going to go up, for sure," said Fischer.

"The front of our house was destroyed, windows were shattered," said Fischer, who has lived in Saddle Ridge for 20 years.

"As an ordinary citizen, I just want to stand up for our community," he said, speaking about why he wanted totakepart in the convoy to Edmonton.

Fischer said local UCP politicians in the northeast aren't doing enough, offering best wishes but little else.

"We really haven't had any action," he said, with the exception of Ward 5 Coun. George Chahalat the city leveland the northeast's lone NDP MLA,Irfan Sabir, at the provincial level.

"Provincially, it's been very poor," he said.

Fischer says that with no real help on the way, he's concerned the northeast could eventually end upwith a glut of bankruptcies and empty, hail-damagedhomes as people are forced to leave the area.

The convoy held a demonstration on the steps of the legislature at noon.