Terrace city councillor Brian Downie and Lolita Dunham have returned home last Friday after more than two weeks of flood relief work in southern Alberta.
On Sunday, June 23 the Salvation Army got the call that the Terrace mobile kitchen would be needed after southern Alberta was suddenly hit with severe floods and dozens of communities declared a state of emergency.
Up until last week, Downie and Dunham were at an Emergency Operations Centre in High River, 63km south of Calgary. There they cooked and served meals to emergency responders and volunteers.
Downie said the size of the vehicle not only made it easier to navigate roads, but meant they could provide a substantial amount of meals, around 400 each day.
After Canada Day, the pair were sent to Okotoks, a community 38km south of Calgary and provided lunch and dinner to displaced residents.
Downie said the residents were set up for temporary shelter at the curling rink.
“The numbers are coming down,” Downie said in regards to how many people needed assistance last week. As more people have been able to return home, Downie and Dunham flew back home to Terrace Friday morning, while the mobile kitchen stayed.
Major David Moulton said the kitchen will stay in Alberta for as long as it’s needed.
“If something came up here, we would request to have it sent back here,” Moulton said.
Downie said Salvation Army volunteers from Prince George will be driving the mobile kitchen back to Terrace. He expects this to take place sometime this week.