After the Storm—One Year Later

ONE YEAR LATER

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After the Storm—One Year Later

Foreword A year ago on September 21, 2019, tornadoes struck Ottawa, causing devastating damage throughout the city and leaving thousands of residents without power for days. Hundreds of residents had damaged homes and, in some cases, houses that would need to be demolished.

Councillor Keith Egli, Ward 9 – Knoxdale-MerivaleCo-chair, After the Storm table

In the days and weeks that followed, the City of Ottawa focused on clean-up and housing options for residents. The City’s Forestry, Solid Waste and Roads staff were out taking away debris and fallen trees, and assessing damage with help from the community associations and Samaritan’s Purse. The Salvation Army helped coordinate hot meals for anyone in need. Ottawa Public Health worked closely with its City of Ottawa colleagues and partners to support our community. To mitigate the psychosocial impacts of the disaster, they staffed community support centres, conducted door-to-door wellness visits and provided information to the community about mental health resources, drinking water safely, and precautions to protect residents’ health.

There was an overwhelming amount of offers for donations and help from the public. People donated food, clothing, funds, etc. and the challenge became determining the greatest needs in each affected neighbourhood. The After the Storm table organized by United Way East Ontario assembled community partners such as The Salvation Army, the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Community Housing, the Ottawa Food Bank, the Canadian Red Cross, and many more organizations in one room to discuss the needs, where funds would be best suited and to ensure nothing got missed. For example, the Ottawa Senators Foundation and the Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre (NROCRC) focused on mental health assistance for residents. NROCRC is still offering counselling to those who were impacted by the storm. The Ottawa Food Bank and the FAMSAC Food Cupboard had more people in need this past Christmas due to the impact, and the After the Storm table helped make sure there were enough funds allocated so they could help everyone.

As a result of the efforts of the After the Storm group, a meeting was organized between the local community associations, residents, the City’s Forestry staff, Tree Canada, Ecology Ottawa, and the National Capital Commission to work on a plan for replanting and stumping.

I would like to thank United Way for organizing the After the Storm table, and all of the community partners and volunteers for their help this past year. I look forward to working with everyone to continue rebuilding the impacted areas.

Sincerely,

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Message from the President and CEO

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When Ottawa was still in darkness the next morning, we started reaching out to our partners across the city to assess the need. We needed to know: how many seniors were isolated due to the power outage? Which communities were most at risk of food insecurity? Did families know where to reach out for help to address their trauma?

United Way East Ontario has a history of supporting our communities in times of crisis. Even though the storm had passed, we could see the devastation would impact residents for a long time to come.

Our long history and reputation as a dedicated fundraiser means that many don’t realize the full power and scope of our work today.

At United Way, we believe that to tackle the greatest challenges facing our community we must first untangle the problem and truly understand what’s before us. We then draw in the right people to address it, advocate for change, and of course, raise support—in all its forms. Together we then invest available resources in smart, strategic ways to ultimately move the needle—to have a tangible impact.

We knew United Way would need to be there for our community. What follows in these pages is not only an open and transparent accounting of our investments—but also a picture of the totality of our work: a snapshot of what’s possible when United Way rallies people, resources and partners together to build a strong, healthy, safe community for everyone.

In the days after the tornadoes, many leading organizations came together, forming After the Storm—a community partnership led by United Way and the City of Ottawa where all members committed to collaborate and plan for recovery, and invest raised funds where they were needed most and would have the greatest impact. Partners met regularly to share information, coordinate on addressing the community’s needs, and report publicly about our progress. Our goal was to make sure no one was forgotten in the wake of this natural disaster.

Now, one year later, we are taking time to look back on how far our community has come—and how far we still have left to go.

Message from the President and CEOOn September 21, 2018, a devastating storm ripped through Ottawa. Multiple tornadoes touched down in the region, causing significant damage to houses and local hydro grids. Almost all of western and southern Ottawa was without power—170,000 households were affected.

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After the Storm—One Year Later

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As a group, the After the Storm table established a coordinated approach to delivering social services and relief efforts to residents. We also ensured partners and the broader community were well-informed of progress and priorities.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, United Way raised and invested more than $700,000 through After the Storm to support basic needs, and long-term recovery initiatives like mental health supports, program navigation assistance, outreach to seniors, community resiliency, and legacy projects.

Despite these successes, we know there are still many hurdles to overcome.

Many families are still not back in their homes. On top of that, some are still dealing with insurance companies, re-planting trees, remediating contaminated soil, and seeking a sense of balance in communities that may never look the same.

Although we still have a long way to go, we are stronger as a result of the connections we built. And no matter what happens, United Way is here for our community, 365 days of the year.

Thank you for standing with us in our commitment to making our community great for everyone.

Michael AllenPresident & CEO, United Way East Ontario

Sincerely,

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“Now, one year later, we are taking time

to look back on how far our community

has come—and how far we still have

left to go.”

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After the Storm—One Year Later

After the Storm table,October 3, 2018

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After the Storm—One Year Later

In the days after the tornadoes, United Way brought together the After the Storm table: a group of community partners committed to collaborating to ensure no one was left behind in the wake of the crisis. The After the Storm table, chaired by United Way and the City of Ottawa, met regularly to discuss community needs, decide which organization(s) were best positioned to address those needs, and strategize on investments, advocacy and future planning.

All of the After the Storm table activities were executed with the affected communities in mind.

United Way met regularly with groups in Trend Arlington and West Carleton, and attended all community meetings in those areas to stay up to date about activities on the ground and how residents were doing. We also worked closely with partners at the table to coordinate a “Needs Framework”—a living document that captured data, key issues, and financial commitments to keep the group on track towards our common goal of community recovery.

The After the Storm table ensured there was a coordinated approach to mental health and information services for residents by establishing a platform for funders, the City of Ottawa, Community Health and Resource Centres, and communities to work together and communicate with each other.

The table was also a forum to identify and respond to evolving challenges, including:

Strength in numbersAt United Way, we know we can’t tackle the tough problems alone. That’s why, for After the Storm, we leaned into our role as a convener. In our work, we draw on local expertise to ensure the right people, organizations and skills are brought together to help people in need.

• Outstanding basic needs

• Speed of critical repairs, especially those that were the responsibility of landlords, condo boards, energy companies, etc.

• Communicating and prioritizing appropriately around immediate vs. long-term needs

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After the Storm—One Year Later

By committing to meet publicly, the After the Storm table set out to ensure challenges and key decisions were well understood and communicated with the media and across the community.

The following organizations took part in After the Storm meetings and activities over the past year:

Liane is a Dunrobin resident. She shared what her family experienced when a tornado ripped through their neighbourhood on the evening of September 21.

Watch: Dunrobin

• United Way East Ontario

• City of Ottawa

• Ottawa Senators Foundation

• Ottawa Food Bank

• The Salvation Army

• Ottawa Community Foundation

• Ottawa Community Housing and Ottawa Community Housing Foundation

• Champlain Community Support Network

• United Muslim Organizations of Ottawa-Gatineau

• Canadian Red Cross

• West Carleton Disaster Relief

• Trend Arlington Community Association

• South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre

• Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre

• Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Trend Arlington was built among trees that have stood for hundreds of years. The tornado that hit on September 21 tore through the neighbourhood—completely changing the landscape, and lives.

Watch: Trend Arlington

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After the Storm—One Year Later

Every step of the way, we worked with community associations, residents and frontline workers in Dunrobin, Kinburn, Greenboro, Craig Henry and Arlington Woods to determine the needs and invest the funds where they would have the greatest impact.

Your donations to United Way through After the Storm helped ensure the long-term recovery of residents hit hardest by the storm.

While some of these investments have served their purpose in helping affected residents, many others are ongoing and will be in place for months to come— to ensure people have access to them as long as they are needed.

Here’s how we put your dollars to work:

Basic needs and timely assistance for those requiring urgent fundamentals like food, gas, and household supplies—$100,140 Ottawa Food Bank—$20,000* Helping families, particularly those living in low-income, replenish their stocks of fresh and frozen food that were lost during the initial power outage.

*United Way invested in the Ottawa Food Bank immediately after the tornadoes knocked out power in at-risk neighbourhoods. We hadn’t begun fundraising for After the Storm yet, so we invested $20,000 of our testamentary funds—dollars entrusted to United Way through legacy gifts.

The Salvation Army—$15,000 Support for frontline workers and programs that provided hot meals, hydration, replacement furniture and clothing, door-to-door outreach and other basic needs in the early emergency period.

InvestmentsAs part of our work, United Way East Ontario raised $706,926.67 through After the Storm to invest in Ottawa’s long-term recovery and truly change the circumstances for those in need.

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After the Storm—One Year Later

FAMSAC Food Cupboard—$6,000 West Carleton Food Access Centre—$6,000 Support for these local organizations as they drastically increased their services to provide food and other provisions to families—many of whom had never previously relied on food access centres.

Gift Cards—$53,140 Gift cards for gas, groceries and home supplies were given directly to affected residents through West Carleton Disaster Relief Group, The Salvation Army, Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre, and Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre.

Counselling, crisis lines and other mental health supports for those experiencing trauma—$444,587.02 Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre—$58,333 South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre—$63,153 Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre—$58,333 Providing mental health supports for residents in affected neighbourhoods, ranging from stress-reduction workshops, counselling, and general well-being resources. All three community health and resource centres offer group and individual counselling sessions to residents of all ages, with targeted resources for parents of children managing post-traumatic stress. Additional supports included direct household outreach and referrals to specialized care as needed.

Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region—$157,238.64 Support for a 24-hour English-language crisis line focused on residents in affected neighbourhoods to ensure those experiencing mental trauma have someone to reach out to, any time they need.

Tel-Aide Outaouais—$107,529.38 Support for a 24-hour French-language crisis line focused on residents in affected neighbourhoods to ensure those experiencing mental trauma have someone to reach out to, any time they need.

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After the Storm—One Year Later

Door-to-door and community outreach to account for and support vulnerable seniors in the aftermath of the crisis—$42,657 South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre—$32,657 Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre—$10,000 Funding devoted to repeated, direct outreach to seniors who may be further isolated in their homes because of the storm, and to connect them with appropriate resources to maintain their well-being. Seniors are often the most vulnerable in emergency situations, because existing causes of isolation (mobility issues, small social network) can be exacerbated by a power outage, disruption in services, or additional barriers created by a natural disaster.

Information navigation supports and advocacy for families navigating critical recovery services—$50,000 Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre—$15,000 South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre—$10,000 Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre—$25,000 Practical assistance for residents looking to understand and engage with various services that would be critical to their recovery and resiliency. Examples include helping families find temporary housing while their home was repaired, support in applying for funding to deal with increased energy bills, navigating insurance claims, service referrals, etc. Many of these services are only necessary after a crisis, meaning they would be unfamiliar to many. Expertise from health and resource centre staff is critical for families to take full advantage of the resources.

Celebration and memorial activities to maintain social cohesion, and promote healing—$52,000 Craig Henry Community Association—up to $2,000 Trend Arlington Community Association—$25,000 West Carleton Disaster Relief Group—$25,000 United Way recognizes the importance of commemorating a community’s shared experience as part of the recovery process. The Craig Henry Community Association plans to hold a community event; the Trend Arlington Community Association seeks to hold a commemorative event, install a memorial, and replant trees as part of their rehabilitation; and West Carleton Disaster Relief Group plans to create a place for reflection and celebration in Dunrobin.

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After the Storm—One Year Later

After the Storm concert,November 10, 2018

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After the Storm—One Year Later

Partners in change On November 10, 2018, CUPE Local 503 and Ottawa’s music industry came together to host a benefit concert in support of those most affected by the tornadoes. The event was a tremendous success with an estimated 5,000 people in attendance—including residents from Trend Arlington and the Dunrobin area who were hardest hit by the tornadoes—and more than $50,000 raised for United Way’s After the Storm.

A huge thank you to the organizations and groups who used their connections and resources to make the concert a reality:

…and the generous organizations who provided financial and in-kind support to make such a large and impactful event happen on a quick timeline:

Inspiring generosityOur work with After the Storm was bolstered by incredible local support in the weeks following the tornadoes. We are so grateful to the hundreds of individual donors who helped us support our community. Despite the devastating nature of this event, people stepped up to show their generosity for their neighbours and strangers alike.

It is because of your gift that United Way was able to support our community in a time of great need. Thank you.

• Algonquin College’s Music Industry Arts Program

• Canadian Live Music Association

• CUPE Local 503

• Edwards PC, Creative Law

• Live Nation

• Ottawa Bluesfest

• Affinity Productions

• Algonquin Commons Theatre

• Atomic Cartoons & Thunderbird Entertainment

• Bell Media

• Blackiron Agency

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

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After the Storm—One Year Later

…and, of course, the incredible artists who took the stage, to share a powerful message of hope and resilience:

• City of Ottawa

• Corus Entertainment

• Global Public Affairs

• Hydro One Networks

• Hydro Ottawa

• Mediaplus

• Mercury Filmworks

• Ottawa Festival Network

• Ottawa Music Industry Coalition

• Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group

• Ottawa Tourism

• Raven Law

• RNC Média Inc.

• Rogers Media

• Stingray Media Group

• TD Place

• TFI Group

• Thom Fountain Realty

• TriBro Studios

• Vanier BIA

• Warner Music Canada

• Willow Sound Records

• Cody Coyote

• Craig Cardiff

• Jeremy Fisher

• Jim Bryson

• Jim Cuddy Band

• Julian Taylor Band

• Kalle Mattson

• Kellylee Evans

• Kira Isabella

• LGS

• Matt Mays

• Rebecca Noelle

• River Town Saints

• Sarah Harmer

On November 10, more than 5,000 attendees filled Ottawa’s TD Place to enjoy the music of 13 amazing Canadian musicians—all in support of #AftertheStorm tornado relief efforts.

Relive the concert

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After the Storm—One Year Later

As an ally to After the Storm, the United Muslim Organizations of Ottawa-Gatineau pooled their resources and donated $36,320. This was after the group provided hot meals and shelter to affected residents in the first few days after the tornadoes hit.

Thanks to the Ottawa Senators Foundation’s fundraising efforts and partnership at the After the Storm table, we were able to invest an additional $100,000 into 24-hour crisis lines across Ottawa.

Here are the generous corporate partners who engaged their employees, and also made a gift to After the Storm over the past year:

• The Minto Group

• Hydro Ottawa

• Algonquin College

• Wawanesa Insurance

• Ottawa Masonry Contractors’ Association

• Russell Food Equipment Ltd.

• Hockey Canada

• McDonough’s Your Independent Grocery Store #1618

• Innovapost Inc.

• GlobalGiving Foundation

• Canadian Gas Association

• Kanata Sports Club

• The WP Scott Charitable Foundation

• Canadian Student Leadership Association

• Knights of Columbus Council 5153

• Irdeto

• The Co-operators—Merivale

• DLA Management Professionals

• Reliance Home Comfort

• Turnbull Family Community Building Foundation

• Marigold Rescue by Mccabe

• The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) • Bethel-St. Andrew’s United Church Women • The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario

• Torstar Corporation • MARSWorks Inc. • The Brightsiders and Friends

• Union of Safety and Justice Employees • Railway Association of Canada • EarthquakeKit.ca

• Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation

• Accenture

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After the Storm—One Year Later

In addition to these corporate gifts, United Way received generous support from employees at the following organizations:

• Enterprise Holdings • PSAC • City of Ottawa

• The Government of Canada Charitable Workplace Campaign • Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP • DataKinetics Ltd.

• Versaterm Inc. • Lumentum • Coughlin & Associates Ltd.

• University of Ottawa • MD Financial Management • Ciena Ottawa

• Osgoode Properties • MERCER • Carleton University

• Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP • KPMG LLP • Bank of Canada

• Ottawa Police Service • Gowling WLG • belairdirect

• Payments Canada • United Way East Ontario

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After the Storm—One Year Later

However, the effects have been long-lasting, and they’re still not over. One year later, many families are still not back in their homes. Many others continue to deal with insurance claims, home repairs, emotional stress, and just trying to return to a sense of normalcy in communities that may never look the same.

For the team at United Way, we’re still working on the ground with local agencies in the affected neighbourhoods, and key partners from the After the Storm table who remain active in recovery activities.

We’re still here.

At United Way, we have a long history of rallying the financial support of our donors to help the most vulnerable. But, we do not only raise funds and allocate them where they’ll best be put to work. After the Storm is a perfect example of the robust nature of our work in research, convening, advocacy, investing and fundraising—work that, when combined, helps us make a difference in the lives of people in need.

Our commitment to communityThe six tornadoes that hit neighbourhoods in and around Ottawa on September 21, 2018 were over in a matter of minutes.

Recovery from natural disasters continues long after the immediate needs are met. We are committed to standing with our community’s most affected—today, next month, and next year.

See how we’ve made an impact on our community.

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After the Storm—One Year Later

We also continue to work with local stakeholders to plan for the future. This includes contributing our community service perspective to regional Emergency Management forums, providing our knowledge for the development of community preparedness training, and continuing to assess the impact of our efforts to better respond in the future.

Our role as an advocate and convener continues as well, as we use our position to facilitate important discussions between organizations that can make a meaningful difference for residents who are still struggling.

What we’ve learned from responding to this disaster, paired with valuable relationships built at the After the Storm table, is that we are more prepared for environmental events that have affected our city with increasing frequency. In fact, we have already called upon these connections and lessons learned to help us respond to spring flooding across Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County and Renfrew County.

To all of the incredible people and organizations who stepped forward in our community’s time of need: thank you.

After the Storm was only possible because of the commitment and support of our vibrant community. The struggle isn’t over, but we are stronger as a result of the connections we built.

Looking aheadMost recently, we’ve been working with community associations in the hardest hit neighbourhoods to fund and create legacy projects, led by residents—a way to acknowledge the devastation they faced, and move forward with healing.

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After the Storm—One Year Later

About United Way East Ontario

Through research, evaluation and partnerships with community experts, we identify the root causes of the biggest social challenges facing our communities and help find solutions that change tens of thousands of lives for the better. 100% of donations to United Way are put to work in their local communities to help those most in need.

Working with communities in Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark and Renfrew Counties, United Way East Ontario invests resources where they are needed most and will have the greatest impact.

To learn more about how United Way tackles the tough issues in your

neighbourhood, visit: UnitedWayEO.ca