Albertans displaced due to flooding will soon receive their pre-loaded debit cards.

The province will be doing at a staged rollout with the priority being to assist people who are relying on reception centres serving evacuated areas.

“We will ensure that every Albertan who remains displaced is supported and we are working to help those most in need first,” said Rick Fraser, Associate Minister of Regional Recovery and Reconstruction. “Due to the scale of flood damage, our first focus is providing financial assistance to those in the evacuated High River area.”

Debit card processing sites will be set up in Nanton and Vulcan beginning on Thursday, June 27th, to assist High River evacuees.

Additional sites will be set up in Calgary and other communities in the coming week to assist other Albertans affected by flooding.

The Alberta government is also working with the Chief and Council of affected First Nations communities to determine the best way to deliver their cards. At the request of the Siksika Chief, the pre-loaded debit cards for their community will be held until next week.

This new pre-loaded debit card will allow for immediate cash withdrawals at ATMs, debit machines and internet purchases.

Individual adult evacuees will be eligible to receive $1,250 and children under 18 will be eligible for $500.

High River evacuees should register with their local authorities or the Red Cross. Once registered, High River evacuees can go to the Nanton or Vulcan debit card processing sites.

The sites are as follows:

  • Nanton Curling Club at 21 Avenue and 18 Street
  • Vulcan - The Lodge Hall at 229 Centre Street

In an effort to efficiently and effectively handle the large number of people who have been evacuated by the High River flooding, specified times are identified for High River households to apply for the debit card.

These are based on the last name of the primary applicant:

  • Thursday, June 27:  12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • High River households with last names starting with A to L.
  • Friday, June 28:  8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
  • High River households with last names starting with M to Z.
  • Saturday, June 29:  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Any High River area evacuees.
     
  • Sunday, June 30:  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Any High River area evacuees.

There will be more locations announced in the coming days to assist Calgary and other locations affected by flooding.

In the meantime, those who remain unable to return home due to flooding, should first register with the Red Cross through redcross.ca or call 1-866-696-6484.

Affected low income Albertans can also go to any Alberta Works office to get additional information and support through an emergency needs allowance. Alberta Works offices will not be offering pre-loaded debit card assistance at this time.

For latest information, visit http://alberta.ca/recoveryinformation.cfm or call 310-4455.