December 13, 2021
Members across the country have
British Columbia residents in their
thoughts after weeks of record rainfall,
flooding and landslides, which created
perhaps the country’s most expensive
natural disaster ever seen. Emergency
response efforts are just shifting into
recovery mode.
Many communities were isolated by
floods, landslides and bridge washouts;
people are missing and there are five
reports of death. Farming communities
are devastated by flooding, hundreds of
thousands of farm animals have died,
and food and water supplies are
contaminated.
We’ve seen the impact on mail delivery
for our members at work and in their
personal lives, as well as the larger
effects on the displaced and damaged
communities.
Scientific consensus says that the
damage is increased by the effects of
climate change — increasing the
moisture load of atmospheric river
events — and compound effects from
other disasters like the terrible wildfire
season this year.
As an example, Sumas Lake, drained a
hundred years ago, was re-created by
the extreme events, and is not expected
to recede for some time, leaving
drowned homes in the flood plain —
where insurers do not cover against
flooding.
CUPW members are expressing
solidarity with people affected by the
disasters. Some of our locals are raising
money to support displaced residents
and for other relief efforts.
As efforts continue, support is still
needed: ask your local how to support
postal workers and others in affected
areas, or give to Red Cross flood relief
https://donate.redcross.ca/page/94172/do nate,
United Way Lower Mainland
or Watari
https://www.watari.ca/communityprograms- watari/migrant-2-migrant/
which supports a number of communities
including the lower mainland’s large
population of agricultural migrant
workers who are away from their
families and support networks while
dealing with these disasters.
In Solidarity,
Julee Sanderson
1st National Vice-President
2019-2023 — Bulletin no.324