Evacuees line up for hours for provincial emergency funding

Despite a lineup several blocks long, and temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, some of the thousands of Fort McMurray evacuees at the Butterdome Thursdayhad only positive things to say about the experience.

"Met a lot of awesome people,"Spencer De Klerk said.

He related the story of astranger offering him a cup of coffee as he and others waited hours outside the Butterdome to get a debit card foremergency funding from the province.

"Just the courtesy and the help everybody is extending to each other, it's a great experience," De Klerk said.

Evacuees began lining up outside the Butterdomenear the University of Alberta starting at2a.m.,even though the facility didn't open until 8a.m.

Each adult evacuee is entitled to $1,250from the province, while childrenunder 18 areeligible for $500.

The evacuees haveto provide government identification, proof of residency, and must be registered with the Red Cross in order to get the money.

Eleven thousand householdsweregiven a total of $12millionin emergency funds, according to the latest figures Thursday.

In Edmonton, a second location for evacueesto pick up their debit cardswas set upThursday at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Displaced Fort McMurray residents began lining up at NAIT hours before official notice was given of the opening of the second processing site.

Emile Lapointe was one of them. He was turned away from the Butterdome Wednesday evening after spending five hours in line.

"They did have a week to get ready, it's a bit of a disappointment that they didn't have two locations open yesterday. Butthey wised up and they got the second one ready and going today so that's good,"Lapointe said.

He and his son arrived at NAIT early Thursday. Bythe time the doors opened at 2 p.m. the line was "out of sight down the hallway,"he said.

Debit cards were to be handed out in the NAIT north lobby from 2p.m. until 8p.m. Thursday.

"For temporary needs, it will help us a lot,"said Bill Asefa, who came to the Butterdome with his wife and two young children."Until we get back on our feet, I'm sure this will be a tremendous help."

He offeredpraise for those people standing in line alongside his family."It's amazing, a good experience overall,"he said.

De Klerk described the experience as "unifying."

"This fire, it didn't break us in Fort McMurray. It just re-invigorated the love we have for each other, our families and our community," De Klerk said.

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