Some Fort McMurray evacuees still awaiting Red Cross money

The last thing Fort McMurray wildfire victims needed to hear was the 2016 equivalent of "the cheque's in the mail." 

But CBC has spoken to four people who claim they've been given the royal runaround by the Red Cross.

Miles Payne, a married father of two, registered early in May to receive $1,800 in financial assistance.  

He's still waiting.

Payne said the Red Cross returned his call a couple of weeks ago to confirm all his information and told him he'd receive an e-transfer within 24 to 36 hours. When nothing went into his bank account, he called again.  

"A few days later they said it would take another 24 to 48 hours," he said.  

Payne said he heard that same promise three more times. The next time he called, the Red Cross told him it might take another week.  

He has been living in a camper with his family just south of Boyle and said he could make good use of the money.

"You've got to buy everything from scratch," he said. "I mean, my camper had nothing in it, so we had to buy all sorts of stuff for cookware, clothing, everything."

Payne said his brother, who also lives in Fort McMurray, has received his Red Cross money.

And he knows at least two people who actually got extra funds.  

"One lady called to try to pay it back," he said. "And that was a bigger runaround than trying to get it."

Payne offered to walk across the campground to hand his phone to a friend going through the same frustration.  

Kyle Cushing sent his wife and five-year-old son back to Nova Scotia while he deals with the wildfire aftermath. The couple has been calling the Red Cross repeatedly to inquire about the $1,500 e-transfer they've been promised.

'I don't think it's just a couple of cases' 

It's not helping the situation for sure," Cushing said. "It's extra stress we don't need. It's just kind of really terrible how it's been taking so long to get it."

Cushing thinks there are many more families in the same situation.  

"I don't think it's just a couple of cases. The more people we talk to, there's quite a few of us dealing with this."

A Red Cross official offered a mea culpa. 

"My apologies go out to individuals and households that are in that scenario," said Jennifer McManus, Alberta vice-president for the Red Cross. "The assistance is coming. We ask that people try to be as patient as possible." 

According to McManus, almost everyone has now received a share of the first $50 million earmarked for distribution by the Red Cross. She said $49.4 million has been handed out to 88,000 people in 38,000 households.  

"And I can tell you," she said, "we've got a team that's working very hard on finishing up those last few cases."  

With their permission, CBC passed along contact information for Payne and Cushing to the Red Cross.  

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Red Cross said Payne's name had been added to a batch of e-transfers being sent out the same day.  

Payne had his fingers crossed the email he's waited nearly a month for would finally arrive. His patience finally paid Wednesday when the e-transfer came through.

"You're helpless," he said. "You call the Red Cross and you get the runaround. It starts to get hard after a while. I mean, I know we should be on our feet now, but you still need assistance."

The Red Cross said the other three people CBC spoke to will get their money on Wednesday.

McManus said anyone still waiting for financial assistance should call or go into a Red Cross office.

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