Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
The information in this section are taken from the Red Cross website How to Get Home. The original source can be found here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Please note, this service is to provide arrangements for travel only and not for accommodations. Hotels and temporary accommodations are extremely limited in Fort McMurray at this time. Please ensure you have a safe place to stay before confirming your return travel back to the area you evacuated from.
1. How can I get home?
Canadian Red Cross transportation services will be offered to support both the provincial and municipal governments plan for re-entry. The Canadian Red Cross will be offering transportation services to help people affected by the wildfires to return home through the following ways:
- For those inside Alberta – bus services are available from Edmonton, Calgary and Lac La Biche to Fort McMurray.
- If you are inside the province and do not have transportation to a bus departure location listed above, please contact your local Red Cross office. Locations in Alberta:
- Grande Prairie Branch – (403) 526-3048
- Edmonton Branch – (780) 423-2680
- Calgary Branch – (403) 541- 6100
- Lethbridge Branch – (403) 327-7117
- Medicine Hat Branch – (403) 526-3048
- Red Deer Branch – (403) 342-6373
- Standoff Branch – (403) 737-3883
- High River Branch – (403) 652-3689
- For those outside Alberta – flights are available to Edmonton, followed by bus services to Fort McMurray.
- Travel reservations must be made through http://albertacrc.cortravco.com/ or by calling 1-888-539-6918.
2. How do I know if I’m eligible to go home?
Evacuated residents of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) currently housed throughout Alberta and across Canada are eligible to return home. It is recommended that you follow the zone re-entry plan that has been planned by the government. To arrange travel through the Canadian Red Cross, individuals or families must:
- Be evacuated as a result of the 2016 Alberta wildfires.
- Not be receiving financial support for transportation back to RMBW from the company they are working for or from an insurance company.
3. Where are the buses leaving from?
In total, there will be six departure points within Edmonton, Calgary and Lac La Biche. You will receive further details of departure points once you book your travel arrangements home, based on your current location.
4. What if I’m located North of Edmonton, Calgary, or Lac La Biche? How will I get transportation home?
The Red Cross is committed to providing transportation to all evacuees for their return home. If you are inside Alberta, but not located in Edmonton, Calgary or Lac La Biche, please contact a Red Cross office nearest to you, to arrange your transportation.
- Locations in Alberta:
- Grande Prairie Branch – (403) 526-3048
- Edmonton Branch – (780) 423-2680
- Calgary Branch – (403) 541- 6100
- Lethbridge Branch – (403) 327-7117
- Medicine Hat Branch – (403) 526-3048
- Red Deer Branch – (403) 342-6373
- Standoff Branch – (403) 737-3883
- High River Branch – (403) 652-3689
5. What is the schedule for bus departures?
Bus schedules will be based on reservations that must be made throughhttp://albertacrc.cortravco.com/ or by calling 1-888-539-6918. Once you provide the necessary details, you will receive further information around travel times and details.
Please be patient with our travel agents as they deal with a large volume of requests and understand that your request may not always be met immediately. Please also consider booking through the online portal in order to alleviate the amount of calls being made to the call centre.
As you can imagine, many families are anxious to get home at this time. We will do our best to accommodate your travel requests; however, based on occupancy and availability, requested dates and times for travel may not always be met.
6. How do I arrange for my family and I to get on a bus home?
Travel reservations must be made through http://albertacrc.cortravco.com/ or by calling 1-888-539-6918.
If you do not have transportation to a departure site, please contact your local Red Cross office. If you require details to reach your nearest Red Cross office, please call 1-888-350-6070.
Please be patient with our travel agents as they deal with a large volume of requests and understand that your request may not always be met immediately. Please also consider booking through the online portal in order to alleviate the amount of calls being made to the call centre.
As you can imagine, many families are anxious to get home at this time. We will do our best to accommodate your travel requests; however, based on occupancy and availability, requested dates and times for travel may not always be met.
7. How do I arrange for my family and I to get a flight home?
Travel reservations must be made through http://albertacrc.cortravco.com/ or by calling 1-888-539-6918.
Please be patient with our travel agents as they deal with a large volume of requests and understand that your request may not always be met immediately. Please also consider booking through the online portal in order to alleviate the amount of calls being made to the call centre.
As you can imagine, many families are anxious to get home at this time. We will do our best to accommodate your travel requests; however, based on occupancy and availability, requested dates and times for travel may not always be met.
8. How much will it cost for me to take a bus or a flight home?
The cost of this travel will be covered by the Canadian Red Cross. However, if you are travelling by air, please note the luggage specifications below in order to avoid extra charges that will not be covered by the Red Cross.
For those travelling by air, each person can bring the following:
- One carry-on and two pieces of luggage.
- The Red Cross will allow a third piece of luggage for food provisions up to 50 pounds per person.
For those travelling by bus, each person can bring the following:
- One carry-on and two pieces of luggage.
- The Red Cross will allow a third piece of luggage for food provisions up to 50 pounds per person.
9. Is the Red Cross paying for gas if I have my own car?
Should you be travelling home with your own vehicle and require Red Cross assistance for the purchase of gas, please visit your nearest Red Cross office, where Red Cross personnel will assess your personal needs and address accordingly.
If you require contact details to reach your nearest Red Cross office, please call 1-888-350-6070.
10. What do I bring home with me?
The Canadian Red Cross recommends packing essential items for you and your family to be self-sufficient for up to fourteen days. This includes items such as food, clothing, medications and baby supplies.
Upon arrival at an information centre, the Canadian Red Cross will be provide clean-up kits, after-fire kits, and hygiene kits for those in need.
11. What if I get home and I can’t live at my house?
At this point in time, the Canadian Red Cross is not providing accommodations upon return to Fort McMurray. However, should individuals and families return and realize their homes are not ready to live in; please visit an information centre where Red Cross personnel can arrange for bus transportation back to Calgary or Edmonton.
If you return to Calgary or Edmonton and upon return require interim housing solutions, please inform Red Cross personnel on-site who can arrange for a confidential one-on-one personal assessment to meet your needs.
Please know, you can also call 1-888-350-6070 for further Red Cross assistance.
12. How much luggage am I allowed to bring on the bus with me?
- One carry-on and two pieces of luggage.
- The Red Cross will allow a third piece of luggage for food provisions up to 50 pounds per person.
13. How much luggage am I allowed to bring on the plane with me?
- One carry-on and two pieces of luggage.
- The Red Cross will allow a third piece of luggage for food provisions up to 50 pounds per person.
14. What about food? Does my “luggage” include all the food I will need to pack for my family and me?
The Red Cross will allow a third piece of luggage for food provisions up to 50 pounds per person.
15. What about my pet(s)? Can they come on the bus with me? Can they come on the flight with me?
Yes. Please specify that you are bringing your pet(s) when you are arranging your travel through the Canadian Red Cross.
16. What if not all of my family wants to come back at this time?
Not everyone from the community is expected to return back at this time. Should some of your family wish to travel back at a later date, those arrangements can be made when coordinating your travel.
17. Can I arrange return travel?
Yes – those who return to Fort McMurray and wish to leave again, are able to arrange for return travel through the Canadian Red Cross. However please note, this option is available by bus only to sites in Calgary or Edmonton.
18. Will there be transportation options available once I return home to Fort McMurray?
Upon return, authorities will be arranging shuttle services to transport individuals and families to their homes in their respective communities. They will also be offering services to retrieve abandoned cars as well. For more information on abandoned vehicle retrieval, please contact the province at 310-4455 or view the Re-entry Information Booklet online.
19. What is the deadline for booking travel?
There is no deadline for booking travel through the Canadian Red Cross at this time.
20. Do I book by household or by each family member?
Please provide your registration number when booking your travel. You will have to confirm details such as the number of household individuals returning, as well as the age of each individual in your family returning. Please also provide Red Cross registration numbers for family members returning, if applicable.
21. Can friends or relatives who were not residents of Fort McMurray at the time of the evacuation, but want to accompany evacuees back to Fort McMurray access Red Cross transportation?
No. In order to ensure we are meeting the needs of those directly affected by the wildfires in Alberta, only those who were evacuated and registered with the Canadian Red Cross are eligible to access the transportation services being offered.
22. Will the Red Cross help me retrieve my abandoned vehicle?
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will be providing services to help retrieve abandoned vehicles. Please contact the province at 310-4455 for more information or view the Re-entry Information Booklet online.
23. When will the airport in Fort McMurray open?
The airport in Fort McMurray is set to re-open on June 10.
24. 1.Can I bring additional items such as cases of alcohol?
Each person can bring the following:
- One carry-on and two pieces of luggage.
- The Red Cross will allow a third piece of luggage for food provisions up to 50 pounds per person.
- If this is included as part of your luggage for food provisions, then yes.