A longtime Hay River resident living in Australia is seeking help as she and her family recover from devastating floods in late February.

Nancy Grimm, 42, grew up in Hay River and graduated from Diamond Jenness School in 1998.

She has been residing in Australia since 2000.

She currently lives on a farm in the small village of Cordington, just outside of Coraki, which was ravaged by floods on Feb. 28.

GrimmSA国际影视传媒檚 friends Heather Bassett in Fort Saskatchewan and Niada Monkman in Hay River have been raising money to cover flood-related damages through a GoFundMe page.

SA国际影视传媒淥n Feb. 25 (Nancy and her family) had flooding, which came up pretty fast and wiped out everything,SA国际影视传媒� Bassett said. SA国际影视传媒淲ater went all the way up to the roof of their home and roofs of everything. Even their kidsSA国际影视传媒� school was put up on cement planks because there was such crazy amounts of water.SA国际影视传媒�

Grimm, her husband Daniel and their three children were forced to evacuate to a State Emergency Service rescue unit, where they are currently staying with other homeless families from the region.

They were able to take very few possessions beyond three changes of clothes, some electronics, their pets and their family vehicle.

SA国际影视传媒淓verything is gone because water went up to the roof,SA国际影视传媒� Bassett said. SA国际影视传媒淎nything that may have been salvaged in the home is contaminated because of the toxicity of the water, so they wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to get anything.SA国际影视传媒�

Road access to the location has been extremely limited and Australian media outlets have reported that food, fuel, fresh drinking water and other supplies have been dwindling.

Furniture and garbage are scattered about and the stench of sewage and other strong odours have been widely reported.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of people just camped along on the roads and stuff on these little islands that theySA国际影视传媒檙e trapped on, basically,SA国际影视传媒� Bassett explained.

She said GrimmSA国际影视传媒檚 family has helped more than 200 other families suffering from the flood as they also volunteer at the rescue units.

As of March 16, Bassett and Monkman had raised close to $13,000 toward a $16,000 GoFundMe goal.

SA国际影视传媒淭he family really has a huge road ahead of them because you donSA国际影视传媒檛 get any insurance for flooding,SA国际影视传媒� Bassett explained. SA国际影视传媒淭hey might be able to own the land that they have, which is a farm, but they probably wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be covered for anything else. They wonSA国际影视传媒檛 have a house or anything.SA国际影视传媒�

Bassett said the situation is putting a mental strain on the family as they are feeling overwhelmed and want to come home to Canada to see family after being apart because of Covid.

SA国际影视传媒淎ny little amount would help, it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have to be big amounts,SA国际影视传媒� Bassett said of donations. SA国际影视传媒淚t all adds up in the end. If everybody put in two bucks it could make a big difference.SA国际影视传媒�

Many longtime residents of Hay River will remember educators Peter and Carol Grimm, NancySA国际影视传媒檚 parents, having served at Harry Camsell School for years. They now reside in Fort Saskatchewan and are receiving any donations that can be provided.

People interested in helping the family can donate to the GoFundMe page at .

For those not comfortable sending money online, Niada Monkman is collecting donations at RingsSA国际影视传媒檚 Drug Store that will be sent to the family.