300 Filipino families in Canada evacuated due to floods

Calgary firefighters check on homes as residents and volunteers are in clean up mode in the community of Bowness as most of the homes have been pumped out with still some remaining submerged in water in Calgary, Alberta, on Monday, June 24, 2013. Alberta's premier pledged $1 billion on Monday to help people recover from floods that devastated parts of the western Canadian province. AP PHOTO/CANADIAN PRESS, NATHAN DENNETTE

MANILA, Philippines - Around 300 Filipino families were among those evacuated Friday due to severe flooding in Alberta, Canada, the worst flooding in the province's history.

Most of the families did not anticipate the floods due to the overflowing of the Bow River following torrential rains.

Many of them were not able to secure provisions and were only able to bring valuable documents with them.

The Filipino community based in Calgary, the largest city in Alberta, has created a task force to facilitate disaster response and relief.

About 75,000 Calgary residents were affected by the onslaught expected to have cost the Canadian economy $2 billion in damages.

The city was placed in a state of emergency Saturday as homes and businesses were awash with debris, mud and dirty water.

Many residents have been allowed to return to their homes by Sunday facing extensive property repairs.

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