Fort McMurray Fire – Resource List

05.05.2016

The #ymmfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada has caused the evacuation of an estimated 88,000 persons in the area. The government and community have been actively using social media to set up various types of resources and identify needs. This report is a collection of some of those resources that may be useful for people impacted by the fire.

May 5 and May 6 PDF version is available – download here

  • Fort McMurray #ymmfire Resource List, May 5, 2016.pdf
  • Fort McMurray ymmfire Resource List, May 6, 2016.pdf

Resource Report – (Updated: May 6, 2016) 2:00pm Local (MDT)

Prepared by: Humanity Road / Animals in Disaster

Follow: @Humanityroad / @Disasteranimals / @jAidDog

Situation Overview

Background: The #ymmfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada has caused the evacuation of an estimated 88,000 persons in the area (source). A provincial state of emergency has been declared for Alberta (source). As of May 5, 8:30am MT, the fire has grown to roughly 85,000 hectares (over 210,000 acres) (source). As of May 4, a total of 1,600 homes have been destroyed (source). The government and community have been actively using social media to set up various types of resources and identify needs. This report is a collection of some of those resources that may be useful for people impacted by the fire.

Highlights

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley Update as of May 6 1:00pm Link

The fire continues to burn out of control. Today the fire covers over 101,000 hectares. More than 1,200 firefighters, approximately 110 helicopters, 295 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 27 air tankers are fighting the fires across the province. Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation remain under a mandatory evacuation order. There are currently 10 reception centres operating within the province.

Official Government Resource Links

Twitter Hashtags:

Event hashtag: #ymmfire

Other event hashtags: #fortmcmurray, #fortmacfire, #ABfire

Relief hashtags: #ymmhelps, #ymmpets, #feedthefort

Location hashtags: #ymm (Fort McMurray), #yeg (Edmonton), #yyc (Calgary)

Twitter List:

Facebook Pages for Relief and Reunification

  • Red Cross Canada: Link
  • Facebook Safety Check: Link
  • Fort McMurray Evacuee Open Source Help Page: Link
  • Fort McMurray Evac Relocation Help Group: Link
  • Fort McMurray Fire Facebook source
  • GP Fort McMurray Fire Relief source
  • Help Together, Fort McMurray Fire source
  • Bold Center: Link
  • Lac La Biche County Libraries: Link
  • Edmonton Public Libraries: Link
  • Edmonton Emergency Relief Services Society: Link

 

Other Sites Providing Assistance Information

General Information and Needs Assistance:

  • 211 Resource List for fires in RM Wood Buffalo: Link
  • Red Cross Canada twitter, website
  • YMMHelp (offer to help, request help) twitter, website
  • Fort McMurray Recovers website (request help, offer help): Link
  • Fort McMurray Wildfire Emergency Contact Resources: Link

Shelter:

  • Lac La Biche County – Information for evacuees: Link
  • Edmonton – Information for Evacuees and Volunteers: Link
  • Fort McMurray Accommodation Matching: Link
  • Athabasca County, List of Aspen View Public Schools accepting evacuees: Link
  • Bonnyville Municipal District, numbers for those sheltering in Bonnyville Link
  • Bonnyville urges evacuees to check-in at their check-in centre Link
  • Calgary – Evacuee Information and Evacuation Centers: Link
  • List of Workforce Camps that can house evacuees: Link
  • List of Civeo Lodges that can accept evacuees: source
  • Hotel accommodations list for Edmonton and Calgary: Link
  • Free Airbnb accommodations for fire evacuees: Link
  • Free hotel accommodations in Bonnyville & Whitecourt Link
  • Lions Campground, 4723 Riverside Drive, Red Deer – Free camping for one month with proof of residency from evacuated areas. For more information call 403-342-8183 or visit website, source

Food:

  • List of restaurants in Edmonton offering free meals for evacuees (call first to verify): Link

Vulnerable Populations Resources (Seniors, People with Disabilities, Medical Needs)

Children, Pregnant Women:

  • Edmonton Maier Centre is open for families and kids with autism: source
  • Ronald McDonald House can help find accommodation for families with children with medical needs who have evacuated to Edmonton. Call 780-439-5437. source
  • For information on child intervention, child care and family support for Children with Disabilities, Fort McMurray and area residents may contact 1-800-638-0715. Source
  • Alberta Midwives, 587-888-3682, source

Special Dietary Needs:

  • Kinnikinnick Foods at 10940-120 St in Edmonton can help evacuees needing gluten free food. source
  • Halal meals available in Lac La Biche at McArthur Place. source

Medications:

  • Garneau Pharmacy can help evacuees who left prescriptions at home. Call 780-705-7755. source
  • London Drugs is offering emergency pharmacy services and charging stations for evacuees. For emergency prescriptions, call 1-844-782-0051. source

Assistance for People with Disabilities:

  • Persons with developmental disabilities, their families or contracted service providers who need assistance can contact the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program Branch at 780-427-1177 ext #3 or Disability Services at 780-415-2466 or visit Persons with Developmental Disabilities.
  • Residents receiving benefits from the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program by cheque rather than electronic deposit are advised to call the Athabasca AISH office at 780-675-6853 during regular office hours or visit Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH).

Health Information:

  • Alberta’s 24-hour Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642
  • Cancer patients: contact AB Cancer at 1-888-432-8865
  • Diabetes Information for evacuees. Link

Maps and Situational Awareness Reports

  • Standby Task Force – Storify Report: Link
  • ESRI Fort McMurray Wildfire Sitrep #2: Link
  • As-it-happens Fire Map [National Post]: Link
  • Weather Network Maps (Neighborhoods affected, weather maps): Link
  • Map of evacuated areas and hotspots from May 2-5: Link
  • Fort McMurray Animal Rescue Map (report a lost pet): Link

Animal Assistance Links

Missing Pets and Temporary Housing:

  • Paws Rescue in Edmonton website, Twitter, FaceBook
  • If you have lost a pet, tweet to #ymmhelps or #ymmpets
  • Fort McMurray Animal Rescue Map (report a lost pet): Link
  • Animal Assistance Request Form (for evacuees who left pets behind): Link
  • Fort McMurray SPCA. Call 780-743-8997 (corrected number). Website, Twitter, Facebook
  • Fort McMurray Fire Lost Pets [Facebook group]: Link
  • Fort McMurray Lost Animals [Facebook group]: Link
  • List of rescues and kennels offering temporary housing for animals: Link
  • Fort McMurray Fire Emergency Animal Assistance [Facebook page]: Link
  • Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS), Facebook: Link

Veterinary Clinics:

  • List of Alberta veterinary clinics offering assistance: Link
  • List of veterinary clinics in Edmonton that can provide vet care and boarding: Link

Communications

Voice and WiFi:

  • Shaw Go WiFi guest access is open for Edmonton and Northern communities. Source
  • Fort Mac: need to connect, but don’t have a cellphone? Dial ‘0’ from a TELUS payphone in the area for free calls in Canada. Source
  • Telus waiving all additional call & text charges through May 17 for Fort McMurray customer. Source
  • Telus sending 1,000 wireless devices and chargers to evacuation centres. Free calls and texting. Source
  • Telus has shipped 1,000 cellphones to give to firefighters. Source
  • Rogers waiving the cost of calls and texts to/from Fort McMurray to help our customers stay safe and in touch with loved ones. source

Amateur Radio

Amateur Radio operators may be using:

Fort McMurray repeaters

Fort McMurray Automatic Packet Reporting System

Amateur Radio Operations may be on 14.135, 7.135, and 3.675 mHz