Some northern Manitoba wildfire evacuees still struggling to get financial help from Red Cross

People from some northern Manitoba communities say wildfire evacuees are having a hard time getting expected financial help from the Canadian Red Cross, and in some cases are being told they need to travel to Winnipeg to verify their identity.

That includes those from the small northern community of Sherridon, where Deputy Mayor Sheryl Matheson said none of the roughly 60 evacuees now staying in the southwestern city of Dauphin have gotten any money. 

Matheson said evacuees who have been able to get through to the Red Cross by phone have been advised to travel to Winnipeg to verify their identity at a Red Cross location, told they aren't from a wildfire-affected community or assured they'll get a call back that never comes.

"It is heartbreaking," Matheson said Tuesday, adding many people from the community don't have phones. "You're … [calling] on their behalf and you're getting roadblocks."

As well, "a lot of our people came by a bus — they didn't have their own personal transport. And at this point, you know, the people that did come [by vehicle] probably do not have money for fuel to travel to Winnipeg and back," said  Matheson.

The evacuees in Dauphin are at least being given three meals a day, co-ordinated by outreach programs in the city, but if not for that, "I'm not sure how anyone would be eating right now," she said.

The province said last week wildfire evacuees are eligible for a daily stipend if they're a permanent resident of Manitoba, have a primary residence in a community under a mandatory evacuation order issued on or after May 23, and are registered as an evacuee with the Red Cross.

The financial benefit — $34 daily for each person age 13 or older and $27 for those 12 and under — is being distributed through the Red Cross and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the province said.

A provincial spokesperson told CBC News last Thursday evacuees would start receiving the first payment via e-transfer or a prepaid card within three to five days, which would cover up to the first two weeks' worth of support, and future payments will be based on the duration of the evacuation orders.

Communication challenges

But Matheson, who also serves as president of the advocacy group Northern Association of Community Councils, said she's been hearing concerns about the support from people in other northern communities too.

"It's so frustrating. I don't have answers for them. And as a leader, the last thing you want is not to have answers for your community."

Matheson said while she was told the Red Cross would try to do virtual identification of evacuees so they could avoid more travel, when some tried that option Tuesday, "either they hung up on us, or they said that there was technical problems, or we just couldn't get help."

Another issue that's come up has been with First Nations elders whose first language is Cree, and have sometimes struggled to communicate with the organization on the phone, she said.

"We have been here 17, 18 days and have yet to see anyone from Red Cross," Matheson said, adding she's spent hours on the phone with the organization and with community members, the latter sometimes into the "wee hours of the morning."

"I think that they have to remember these are real people, these are human beings … and they need help now."

A Red Cross spokesperson said the response to Manitoba wildfires is "large and complex," with the organization handling financial assistance for evacuess from non-First Nations communities. Evacuees from First Nations communities should contact Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak for information if needed, spokesperson Heather Hogan said in an email.

In some cases, if the Red Cross can't verify a person's identity with information provided during the registration process, they may be asked for an in-person meeting, but "additional options will be provided by the Red Cross" for those who can't travel to a reception centre, Hogan's email said.

It also said the Red Cross is currently only offering support in English, but is "working closely with the community to determine how to best support those who speak other languages."

Lori Forbes, the municipal emergency co-ordinator for the northern rural municipality of Kelsey, said Tuesday she's heard about evacuees from her community also facing challenges accessing support. The municipality is feeding roughly 130 people a day in The Pas, more than 520 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

"I know the Red Cross is working hard to try and get that support out to folks, but it's very expensive to be evacuated, be in hotels, being at friends' and family's house that are continually buying groceries for, in some cases, 20, 25 people," Forbes said.

"We're happy to be able to help, but … Red Cross needs to get up here and support the folks that are up here," she said. "Telling them to go down to Winnipeg when they're here — you need to look at a map and see how far that is."

Forbes said while some evacuees from her area have been able to get financial support through the Red Cross, it all depends on their circumstances — like if they're able to accept money transfers through their bank or email, which isn't the case for everyone.

"Some people don't even have a telephone. I've been using my phone to get them registered," she said.

"I mean, we don't have as many [evacuees] as Winnipeg and even Dauphin or maybe even Swan River, but we do have folks that need support. Doesn't matter how many there are there — they're here."

Find the latest wildfire information at these sources:

• Canadian wildfire map
• Province of Manitoba fire bulletins
• CBC's wildfire tracker
• Communities under evacuations in Manitoba

Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.