East Flood Fear Grows;Ebbs In North - Iron Bridge - May 1, 1979

THE SAULT STAR

SAULT STE. MARIE, CANADA

TUESDAY, MAY 1,1979

East flood fear grows; ebbs in north

BY DAVE GROFF

Of The Star

As fear grows that flooding in Iron Bridge will worsen today, the crippled community of Searchmont is struggling to get back on its feet.

A four-member committee in the village of 300 was formed Monday to assess damage caused late last week by the swollen Goulais River.

Juhani Pulkkinen, assistant manager of the Weldwood of Canada Ltd. and chairman of the committee, said "The sooner we can ask for assistance, the sooner we can start rebuilding."

A similar committee was formed in the community of Goulais River at the suggestions of MPP Bud Wildman and MP Maurice Foster, who was in Searchmont Monday.

Don Stevenson, deputy intergovernmental affairs minister, said today officials from the ministry's subsidies branch will tour flooded areas in Algoma Wednesday and Thursday.

Cabinet will decide Wednesday whether to offer aid to the North Bay area community of Field from the province's disaster relief fund and a decision for Algoma will be made a short time later, he said.

Dr. Foster has sent a telegram to James Auld, Ontario natural resources minister, seeking aid.

"I am asking that officials of your ministry make an assessment of property damage which has resulted (because of flooding), and that special assistance be made available to these homeowners as quickly as possible to help them rehabilitate and repair damage to their property."

Mr. Wildman, who has been pressing for aid inside and out of the legislature, said chances are "very good" aid will be given to Iron Bridge and Searchmont and is hoping for aid for Goulais River.

"The trouble there is many think Goulais River is just a river and not a community," Mr. Wildman said.

Dr. Foster is also trying to find out if aid is available from the federal government, but Mr. Stevenson said aid fromOttawa isn't usually available unless damage exceeds $8 million, which was the case in the fire disaster in Cobalt in 1977.

Mr. Stevenson said he did not know what kinds of funds would be available for disaster victims, but said funds usually take the form of match dollar-for-dollar raised in the community.

Mr. Pulkkinen said he believes that unorganized communities such as Searchmont are at a disadvantage when seeking aid because they do not have the power of a municipal government backing their request.

That leaves decisions up to outsiders less sensitive to the needs of the community.

Dr. Foster called it shocking that more flooding was feared in Iron Bridge as Ontario Hydro opened more gates to relieve unorganized communities such as Searchmont are at a disadvantage when seeking aid because they do not have the power of a municipal government backing their request.

That leaves decisions up to outsiders less sensitive to the needs of the community.

Dr. Foster called it shocking that more flooding was feared in Iron Bridge as Ontario Hydro opened more gates to relieve pressure behind its dams on the Mississagi River.

He said a full assessment should be made of the reasons behind the flooding after the emergency is over, but stopped short of calling for a public enquiry.

"I'll have to talk to Reeve Harvey Eaket and council before deciding on that," he said. "But I think first, we should worry about dealing with the situation now."