By Brady Tighe
We’re now formally within the aftermath section of the northern Alberta wildfire disaster. The fireplace is lengthy gone, and everybody with a house to return to is again in its cozy confines. The cash has been raised, the aid cheques have been despatched out, the insurance coverage claims are in, the liquor shops are operational, and a plethora of horrible cookie-cutter rock songs have emerged about the entire affair. Certainly one of them, “The Combat,” by Freedom’s Word, is performed incessantly on the radio, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it has executed extra harm to me than the fireplace. It’s the audio equal of a TV film you wouldn’t watch even when somebody paid you.
However I digress. Enterprise as ordinary has returned to grease nation, and therein lies the issue. Making a fast buck is as soon as once more Job 1.
Take these radio stations. Along with horrible rock anthems, they’ve been drenched in post-fire ads, all of that are a composite of the identical assortment of phrases:
“We at [NAME OF BUSINESS] want to thank all of our first responders for the stand they took for our neighborhood. When the fireplace got here and [DID SOMETHING HORRIBLE], we thought we’d by no means be capable of get well, and now, we right here at [NAME OF BUSINESS ABOUT TO EXPLOIT THE SITUATION] want to present our thanks by providing staggering offers on [STUFF], [MORE STUFF], and the rest you may need misplaced throughout this tragic nightmare.”
The staggering offers are on the whole lot you possibly can think about, from spark plugs, tarps, and musical devices, to carpet cleansing companies and beer. What they don’t point out is that these most in want, those that misplaced the whole lot (together with their properties) within the fireplace, aren’t even again within the metropolis. And of those that who’ve returned, most got here again to neighborhoods that suffered solely gentle smoke harm. The entire occasion has now even been given a cute nickname, significantly widespread with radio DJs: “The Evacucation.”
I doubt it’s seen as a lot of a trip, although, by the 20% of the inhabitants who misplaced their properties. Possibly it’s simply as properly they aren’t again in Fort Mac but, listening to the radio.
What the advertisements actually imply, after all, is: “We at [WE’RE NO DUMMIES, LTD.] want to take this chance to make all the cash we probably can off everybody who simply obtained a large insurance coverage cheque.” Which is definitely an efficient marketing strategy. A good friend of mine who works on the town, versus on website, described the monetary windfall that has landed on lots of people: “Most massive employers had been insured for such occasions. The parents that work for these corporations collected a full cheque in the course of the emergency. Others had been laid off, however they collected the utmost unemployment nearly instantly. Which is $49,000 yearly. Not solely that however Canadian Purple Cross instantly gave everybody $600. Then the federal government handed out $1250 for each particular person and little one too, and at last, all of us obtained one other $300 from the Purple Cross.”
In complete, my good friend obtained $2150 from donations. Not unhealthy, on condition that he lives in Kelowna, commutes to Fort Mac, wasn’t evacuated, and misplaced nothing within the fireplace. He additionally advised me about a buddy and his spouse who’ve a home within the metropolis. “The insurance coverage adjusters got here to their house to examine it for harm, of which there was none. At most, some ash had settled on window ledges and doorknobs.” However, the couple was given $20,000 for “clear up.”
His buddy was delighted with the entire thing. “A five-week trip, full wage, $2150 from donations, $20,000 from insurance coverage, and one other $3000 from insurance coverage for his spending in the course of the evacuation. To not point out not having to pay any payments and getting free hospitality wherever he went in the course of the evacuation. He stated he had by no means had a lot cash in his account earlier than.”
My good friend additionally talked about that corporations claiming to be restorative cleansing companies have popped up in all places on the town. One got here by his place of employment. Their gear was model new, paid for in full by the contracts the insurers had been handing out, and included massive air cleaners, excessive finish vacuum cleaners, and cellular lifts, with a staff of 30 temp employees standing by to run them, at $15 an hour every.
Nicely, that’s one option to decrease unemployment within the province.
Now, that is solely the expertise of 1 particular person and his speedy circle of associates. I’m positive there are lots of folks on the town nonetheless experiencing hardship, and lots of whose properties require greater than only a fast dusting. Nevertheless, the 1600 owners and their households who’re nonetheless residing on a futon someplace appear largely to have been forgotten. The fundraising occasions are over, the celebrities have come and gone, the songs have been written, the provincial back-patting is finished, and the radio is telling everybody that the neighborhood has emerged stronger than ever and now it’s time to buy.
We assume the Purple Cross and different assist businesses are nonetheless on the job, serving to out those that have but to return, and they’re. However may we possibly delay the occasion till they’re again? And the way about donating that unneeded insurance coverage cash to one of many native assist businesses in Fort Mac, those that didn’t get the lion’s share of consideration and {dollars} on the time of the fireplace? And ensure it’s one which received’t simply flip round and provides the cash again to you.
Fort McMurray continues to be lacking entire boatloads of individuals, these hardest hit by the tragedy. This example is just not over, and that is the a part of the disaster the place the toughest work must be executed — after the so-called conclusion. Those that didn’t get pleasure from an “Evacucation” are nonetheless evacuated. Let’s not go away them within the weeds whereas we dance to the beat of commerce and unhealthy rock songs.
That is the third of Brady Tighe’s stories on the aftermath of the Fort MacMurray wildfire. Learn components One and Two.
Brady Tighe is a author who divides his time between Victoria, BC and a job within the oil patch. He writes poetry, prose, and journalism, and consumes roo a lot espresso. www.bradytighe.wordpress.com