Feds approve request for N.W.T. flood assistance from Canadian Rangers

The federal government has approved the request for Canadian Rangers to help assist victims of flooding in the Northwest Territories.

Federal Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjanand Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair made the announcement on Twitter Saturday.

In an interview Thursday, N.W.T. MP Michael McLeod saidFort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly put in the request for the support.

McLeodsaidit would"be an easy mobilization," as the government is looking to use thelocal platoon in Fort Simpson to help out.CBCNews is waiting to confirm these details.

TheCanadian Rangersare a sub-component of the Canadian Army Reserve, according to the federal government's website. The Rangerslive and work in remote, isolated and coastal regions of the county andprovide "light-equipped, self-sufficient mobile forces" to support in domestic national security and public safety operations.

'Volunteers are working overtime'

Flooding last weekend left much of Fort Simpsonpartly under water, and hundreds of residents had to leave their homes. Meanwhile, nearby Jean Marie River, a community of about 70people,was practically abandoned as houses filled with water.

The school and buildings were severely damaged.The smell of fuel lingered in the air after the powerful flood waterand ice blocks uprooted fuel tanks.

McLeod saidboth communities are "very keen" to make sure there will be support when the ice clears and the water recedes, though at the moment he says the communities have what they need.

"We're trying we're trying to stay abreast of what's what's going on and make sure everybody knows that we're here to help," McLeod said.

He saidhe's had meetings with Blairand Sajjan and that the federal government isready to offer "whatever assistance the government has on hand."

"We expect there will be some focus on firewood, there will be some focus on getting some showers set up," McLeod said.

"And we're hoping that they'll be able to help some of the work that some of the volunteers are doing. You know, volunteers are working overtime and they're getting very exhausted right now."