THUNDER BAY -- The Disaster Relief Committee has raised around $900,000 but has only a few months to reach the $5 million needed to cover those impacted by the May flooding.
Members of the Disaster Relief Committee gave council an update on the amount of money raised for those impacted by the flood. An estimated $15 to $20 million is needed to assist the thousands affected by the flood.
So far, the committee has raised about $900,000 but that amount doesn’t include the initial $500,000 from the city. The province has already committed to match what the city raised two-to-one.
Disaster Relief Committee chairman Wayne Fletcher said they won’t know how much they will need to raise until all claims have come in.
Applications for the disaster relief ends on Oct. 31 and fundraising for it ends on Nov. 30.
“This is a onetime tragic event,” Fletcher said.
Some councillors expressed concerns that the committee wouldn’t be able to raise the amount needed by the deadline.
McKellar Coun. Paul Pugh said the city was a long way from its intended goal.
Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds shared Pugh’s concerns and said the city was in dire need.
“We got a long way to go,” Foulds said. “I think we do need to be shameless. I think we have to show the province and the nation the disaster. I’m a little worried that people think things are over.”
At-Large Coun. Ken Boshcoff said he didn’t want the issue of raising money for residents to become a tax issue.
