By Staff
August 18, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It was a chilly weekend that put a damper on the public events – but the people working at collecting funds for the Flood Relief program were out on the street as were the Red Cross Volunteers who are going door to door in those areas hard hit to determine the extent of the damage.
Peter Hodgeson, a former Regional Police Superintendent is working with the Red Cross volunteers going door to door gathering information on the extent of the flood damage, talks with ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward who is doing what she can to keep the problem in the minds of the public.
Those leading the response to the disaster are still working at determining the extent of the damage. In order to quantify the damage, information is needed and the city is not convinced that they know everything they need to know.
The concern in the minds of those who work with this kind of disaster is that the news cycle is now so short that the public will soon forget just how badly damaged many homes are and how hurt the families are as well.
“We need to continually tell the stories and keep them in people’s minds so that the public response will be equal to what is needed” said Pete Ward who has extensive experience with disaster relief around the world.
Later this week the names of the people who will sit on the Local Disaster Committee that has been formed will be made known. It is this group of people, currently being led by Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO of the Burlington Community Foundation, who will oversee the actual distribution of funds. She will be joined by others in the days ahead.
The Burlington United Way is continuing to serve as the “banker” for the Relief Fund; they are the primary point for cash donations.
There are dozens of small groups throughout the city holding events to raise funds. The Centro Market held a fund raiser on the weekend; Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward was seen talking to anyone who would give her five seconds about the need for funds.
The need is great.
