Blewett's Footbridge, Bella Coola during the 2010 floods.Laurie Sissons / The Globe and Mail
One month after a massive flood destroyed their farms, fencing, livestock and feed, Bella Coola farmers are facing a dilemma: Kill the remaining animals now, or scrounge up the money somehow to feed them.
The flood affected 20 small farms in the Valley and wiped out 270 tons of hay - three-quarters of the winter feed. Whatever dry hay that could be salvaged has been redistributed, but the farm animals are in imminent danger of going hungry.
Residents were dismayed to find out that the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has little in terms of emergency relief for farm animals beyond helping with evacuations and disposing of carcasses.
"People are resilient here and they're finding ways to help their neighbours and finding ways to rebuild," said Dayna Chapman of the Bella Coola Valley Sustainable Agricultural Society. "Realistically, this is beyond what our community can cope with alone."
Most farmers do not qualify for disaster financial assistance from the government, said the region's MLA, Gary Coons. To be eligible, producers must prove that farming is their primary source of income.
"Bella Coola Valley is very unique," Mr. Coons said. "Everybody needs at least two or three things on their plate to survive."
Mr. Coons said several government agencies - including the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor-General, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, and the Ministry of Transportation - are working together on a plan to meet the needs of the small farmers and small business owners. It could take many months, even years, he said.
Ms. Chapman said some farmers are considering slaughtering their livestock before it is ready for market and giving up farming.
"Meat producers are talking about, are they going to auction, slaughter outside the valley, or figure out a way to keep feeding them on bought hay, which is very expensive," she said.
Some farmers are thinking of freighting in feed from Alberta, but it would cost $350 to $400 per ton, while locally grown hay costs a third less.
Others don't see how they will ever recover.
"The first few days [after the flood] it was so overwhelming, we thought about walking away from it," said Allison Sayers, who lost 12 out of 16 sheep. "We were barely making ends meet as it was before this happened. Now we're at such a loss financially and as far as our ability to care for animals and grow produce, it would take a very long time."
Until more government aid arrives, people are doing what they can to help, and the community is looking to private organizations for assistance.
Dianne Tuck, who runs a horse and cattle ranch on the south side of Highway 20, where the flood did less damage, took in her neighbour's chickens and horses.
"You just thank God you weren't the one who got hit [by the flood]that way, and whatever pressure you can take off the others, you do it," she said.
The Horse Council of BC is also donating $5,000 worth of emergency relief hay to Bella Coola. It should last for three weeks while owners find another source, said Kelly Coughlin, the organization's manager of industry and agriculture,.
Meanwhile, residents are also facing a "grizzly bear situation," because electric fences that keep out wildlife have been washed out. Firewood is also in short supply. While the Disaster Financial Assistance Program will cover up to two cords of firewood per household, most families need at least six to get through the winter, Ms. Chapman said.
"It's really stressful for everybody," she said. "Should I fix my fences, should I buy a new mattress, should I feed my horse, should I hire a backhoe to dredge out my backyard - it's just one more really crazy expense that we're going to have to, as a community, find a way to help with."
A donation account for farm relief has been set up at the local credit union. Cheques can be mailed to Williams Lake and District Credit Union, Box 214, Bella Coola V0T 1C0. Tax receipts can be issued if donors include their name and mailing address.