Conflicting information from officials fuels anxiety among those who fled N.W.T. wildfires

Evacuees from the N.W.T. are expressing frustration with the way the territorial government and other organizations have handled financial aid options and accommodation support. 

As an example, N.W.T. officials said last week that there wouldn't be any financial aid for people who left the territory on their own. Then, late last Friday, the government announced a funding program for people who drove out of the territory — but as Cabin Radio reported, that program has also caused confusion.

Evacuees fleeing wildfires in the southern Northwest Territories say mixed messages from officials are taking a toll on people waiting to go home, and adding more stress to already exhausted displaced residents.

"It's so stressful, it just seemed like we were falling through the cracks," said Pauline Heron of Fort Smith. 

Heron was visiting family in Edmonton when the community was evacuated on Aug. 12. Not knowing what to do, she extended her hotel stay and waited for her husband Brian and their dog Mooch to join her.

Eventually, they made their way to the evacuation centre in Leduc, Alta., hoping to get their room covered. But she said they were told that because they booked their own room, they would need to continue covering the cost.

"It was like $1,500 out of my own pocket at that point, and I was thinking, you know, we're both retired," Heron said.

Not knowing what to do, they went to the Expo Centre in Edmonton. 

"We waited for, I don't know how many hours. And it was chaotic there, it was noisy, and it was really hard for us to try and maintain some sense of hope because it just seemed like there were so many people."

Eventually, the couple made their way to the front of the line, but were again informed they would need to continue paying for their room. This time, the news came with an unexpected guilt trip.

"She said, 'Look around you, all these people here don't have a room, not even for a night. No, we can't help you,'" Heron said.

"We went back to the hotel and I was in tears. I just couldn't believe it."

Heron said they were informed that they needed to check out of the hotel room they were staying in and go back to the evacuation centre so they could be assigned a new room — but there was no guarantee that the new room would allow pets.

The Red Cross was organizing accommodations for evacuees in Edmonton. Neither that organization, nor the city of Edmonton, returned CBC's request for comment.