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Re-entry approved for phase 1 in Abasand and Beacon Hill

Last Updated Aug 25, 2016 at 3:49 pm MDT

An area of town damaged in the wildfire. NICOLE BAGGIO. Staff.

The Phase 1 Green Homes Re-Entry Plan for 439 homes in Abasand and Beacon Hill has been approved by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

That means on Wednesday, August 31, 439 families will be allowed to return to their still-standing homes in those communities.

Recovery Branch Lead Erin O’Neill said it is essential that before you make plans to return you check to make sure whether your home is among those in the first phase for re-entry.

To confirm whether your home is part of the first phase visit RMWB.ca/ABW, there you’ll find maps and a way to enter your address to check.

On August 31 and September 1 and 2 there will be information centres set up in Abasand and Beacon Hill which will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with Alberta Health Services, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the RMWB and other supports available to residents as they return.

Fire trucks will also be waiting to greet residents and BAGSTER services will be provided. O’Neill said the aim is to make re-entry for these residents look and feel the same as the one experienced by the majority of the community in June.

“Today is a happy day for Wood Buffalo,” said Jeanette Bancarz, Chair of the Wood Buffalo Recovery Committee. “On behalf of the Wood Buffalo Recovery Committee and Task Force, I’d like to express a profound thank you to all of our residents for their patience and resilience as we worked alongside the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services to initiate the re-entry process for residents into safe and secure areas in Abasand and Beacon Hill,” said Bancarz.

“With this hurdle behind us, we recognize there is much more work to be done for Abasand and Beacon Hill residents and all across the region on the road to recovery. We thank you once again for your strength and resolve during what is the most difficult time in our community’s history. We look forward to answering your questions and listening to your concerns and priorities at our next community engagement session. We are here for you,” continued Bancarz.

If you have questions and cannot find the answers in this online FAQ sheet you can call the PULSE Line at 780-743-7000.

Anyone who needs assistance returning to the community is encouraged to contact the Red Cross at 1-888-350-6070.

Chief Medical Officer of Health

On Friday, August 19, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Karen Grimsrud, visited Fort McMurray to inspect on the ground the safety measures and risk mitigation steps that have been put in place to ensure the safety of all residents as they return to the community.

“My updated recommendations follow a comprehensive re-entry and mitigation plan developed by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to enable residents to re-enter and re-occupy some areas of Abasand and Beacon Hill,” said Grimsrud. “I am confident that the municipality has plans, mitigations, and tools in place to ensure people returning to the identified homes in these neighbourhoods will be safe.

“A lot of time and thought and collaboration have gone in to the development of the municipality’s plan, and I would like to thank them for working closely with us during that process. I appreciate the commitment to protect the health of Fort McMurray residents that continue to be impacted by the wildfires, and would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding during this difficult time,” continued Grimsrud.

There are another 242 homes in Abasand and Beacon Hill and 36 homes in Waterways that are standing but are not included in this re-entry. That’s because there was no way to sufficiently mitigate the risks of allowing those homes to be re-occupied that would meet Grimsrud’s approval.

Those homes will be part of a second and third phase that won’t be possible until after all debris has been removed. The RMWB and Grimsrud continue to work together on the plans for those communities.

Waterways

At the announcement Thursday morning both Councillor Keith McGrath and Mayor Melissa Blake made special mention of the fact there is still no concrete plan for Waterways and the fact that community wants answers.

McGrath said it’s important for those residents to know they have not been forgotten, that their concerns are on the radar of the Recovery Committee and that staff and committee members alike are working hard to put together a plan for those residents to be allowed to return home and plan for redevelopment.

Last week Mayor Melissa Blake wrote to the province to ask them to approve the municipality’s flood mitigation plan which would allow for rebuilding in Waterways but the province has yet to respond.

You can read the letter here: Minister Phillips – Demountable Flood Wall

If you have questions about the phased re-entry you’re invited to attend Thursday night’s public engagement session being held at the Thickwood YMCA from 4-8 p.m.

Demolition work continuing

Throughout the community work is continuing to clean up, demolish, and remove all debris from the homes destroyed by the wildfire.

As of Thursday, August 25, the RMWB had issued 1,248 demolition permits and 10 rebuild permits.

permits aug 25

Progress is continuing and post-demolition inspections will continue with safety codes officers continuing to monitor the work of all contractors operating across the municipality.