Vaughan donating $15K to Australia after bushfires, flash floods
City said its citizens ‘empathize with those affected by the Australian wildfires’
Yorkregion.com
January 22, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb
Australia has declared a state of emergency after recently experiencing wild weather, ranging from devastating bushfires, baseball-size hail and dusters to flash floods.
The bushfires have killed one billion animals in Australia with some of these species considered rare or at risk. What's worse, ecologist Chris Dickman said this figure of animal genocide doesn't include fish, frogs, bugs and insects.
After the news of the tragic bushfires flooded international media, which published expressive photos of injured kangaroos, the City of Vaughan announced on Jan. 21 that it would donate $15,000 to Australia.
“The City of Vaughan and its citizens have experienced the effects of disasters during the tornado and ice storm and empathize with those affected by the Australian wildfires,” said a Committee of the Whole statement.
It added that the city was making "a donation in the amount of $15,000 to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund” and the funds would be "allocated through the proceeds of the Mayor’s Spirit of Generosity initiative.”
The City's statement also described how “members of the Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service share in the mission and values of Australia’s firefighters and other authorities to protect lives, property and the environment from adverse effects of fire, medical emergencies and other dangerous conditions.”
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Jan. 19 that donations to bushfire relief were “fast approaching half a billion dollars,” making it “the biggest fundraiser ever in response to an Australian disaster.”
But as donations continue to flow into Australia, regulators have warned that they will heighten scrutiny of how charities spend the money received.
On top of that, the weather calamities don't seem to be stopping.
On Jan. 20, the Bureau of Meteorology in New South Wales, the country's most populous state, warned residents of "damaging winds, large, possibly giant hailstones and heavy rainfall" as it issued severe thunderstorm warnings in the east and northeast.
The storms also carried warnings of flash floods, bringing yet another element of risk to areas already hit hard by the fires.
Larger than New Brunswick
On Jan. 21, Bevilacqua made a statement about what has happened in Australia and gave his “deepest sympathies and condolences” to the people affected.
“Multiple news outlets report that the wildfires have expanded to an area that covers approximately 104,000 square-kilometres – larger than the province of New Brunswick,” the mayor said.
“In comparison, the fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta in 2016 -- deemed the costliest disaster in Canadian history -- covered nearly 6,000 square-kilometres,” he added.
“News outlets have reported that the Australia fires have claimed more than 25 human lives to-date. Hundreds of thousands of people from across the country have been evacuated from their homes.
“During times of crisis, we are reminded that when tragedy strikes one of us, it strikes us all.”
The mayor also encouraged people in Vaughan to “support the relief efforts in any way possible as Australia continues to battle the fires and rebuild.”
“The spirit of generosity is a defining trait of our community. We are blessed with compassionate, engaged and devoted citizens who, each day, reach out to help others in need."
