Goderich Town Council has met to authorize the state of emergency after Sunday’s devastating tornado.
Members convened Tuesday in the Knights of Columbus Centre, which is serving as Emergency Headquarters during the disaster.
It paves the way for the town to receive five million dollars in provincial aid.
Goderich council is also asking the federal government for financial assistance.
The town is now setting up a group under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Plan to co-ordinate fundraising and administer disaster payments.
Treasurer Judy Kay says the group will distribute payments to residents who file claims for the portion of tornado damages not covered by their own insurance.
Kay adds Queen’s Park will appoint an administrator for the group.
But no municipal councillors or town staff will sit on that group.
There will also be an “Emergency Operations Control Group”, which does included elected officials and staff to handle all organizational functions during the crisis.
Residents and tourists have expressed concerns about not being allowed access to certain areas of town to assess damage or rescue pets for example.
Goderich CAO Larry McCabe says he understands, and help is on the way.
The Town Building Inspector reports access to “Ground Zero” at Courthouse Square and other areas behind yellow police tape can only be allowed once structural engineers and the Ministry of Labour offer a green light.
One man was killed and at least 37 people were injured as the tornado carved a path through the town of eight thousand on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile the administration of emergency will function from three locations — the Salvation Army and Red Cross will continue operating out of the Columbus Centre on Parsons Court off Suncoast Drive.
The two relief groups are responsible for feeding emergency workers, displaced residents and police — and are serving up to 400 meals per occasion.
The SPCA has established a pet registry at the Columbus Centre, and insurance claims representatives are also on hand at the facility.
The Police Command and Control Centre is operating out of the YMCA in the Maitland Recreational Centre, and Wednesday will welcome additional officers from the City of Toronto Police Service.
35 hundred copies of an informational flyer were distributed door-to-door Tuesday.
Another such fact sheet will be handed out Thursday, advising of a public meeting for all residents Saturday evening at the Memorial Arena on Macdonald Street.
In addition to the door-to-door flyers, the Town website is back up, providing residents with additional valuable information on the recovery.
