CALGARY- “How can I help?”
It’s perhaps the most popular phrase this week—after ‘Nenshi Noun’—as Calgarians rush to assist those worst hit by flooding.
The Prevost family’s home in Roxboro was drenched, and they’ve been working for five days straight to drain the basement.
“It’s all ripped out. A week ago, we had two bedrooms, a bathroom and a play area for our kids,” says Season Prevost.
Fortunately, her family isn’t doing the work alone. Thousands of people around the city are showing up in affected neighbourhoods, ready to roll up their sleeves.
“You can literally show up and find work,” says volunteer Sabina Fabbian. “We don’t know the people, we don’t know the volunteers that are with us, we just met each other and helped out.”
A headquarters of sorts has been set up at the Safeway in Mission just off of 4th Street and Elbow Drive, while makeshift centers have popped up in front yards.
“Since we know all of our neighbours, we were dispatching folks wherever they were needed.”
The mayor urges people who want to help to simply ‘show up’ in affected areas like Rideau, Riverdale and Bowness.
Websites like YYC Helps are also organizing volunteers.
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