Up to $15 million will be made available for a disaster financial assistance (DFA) program for areas affected by the major storms that caused extensive damage around the province this spring and summer, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton, minister responsible for the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), said today.
“When a disaster strikes, we move quickly to provide people with the assistance they need to get on with their lives,” Ashton said.
This new DFA program encompasses six storms that caused significant damage to a number of areas and municipalities across the province including Winnipeg:
• Spring flooding, which caused significant damage in the RMs of Morris, Montcalm and Franklin as well as the town of Emerson.
• Overland flash flooding May 1 to 3 in the Duck Mountain area, which caused extensive damage to parts of the RMs of Mountain and Ethelbert.
• Overland flooding, resulting in reports of significant public-sector damages May 28 and 29 in the Red River Valley including the city of Winnipeg, the southern Interlake and Westman. Manitoba EMO has already received more than 500 private-sector applications for assistance.
• Heavy rains June 17 to 18 in western Manitoba near the Saskatchewan border, resulting in reports of significant public-sector damages and flooding of more than 100 homes in Killarney and the RM of Rosedale.
• Severe thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain, which hit parts of the province June 26 with Steinbach, Hanover and La Broquerie reporting winds reaching 90 km/h.
• Wind and severe thunderstorms, which affected much of central Manitoba July 1 to 3 with damage reported from the Duck Mountain region through to the RMs of
Siglunes, Grahamdale and Fisher. Damage was also reported at the Peguis First Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation. Several homes in Ashern and Moosehorn were flooded.
Manitoba EMO has arranged for all reported public-sector damage to be inspected by engineers and is working in partnership with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to deliver DFA assistance to affected First Nations.
DFA is generally available for evacuation costs, costs to prevent or limit imminent damage and for non-insurable damage to basic and essential property such as principal residences, buildings and other non-insurable losses essential to the operation of eligible farms and small businesses.
“Early reports indicate that much of the damage is a result of overland flooding and sewer backup. Manitoba continues its longstanding commitment to providing disaster financial assistance for overland flooding,” said Ashton. “Where there is a combination of overland flooding and sewer backup, Manitoba is prepared to pay its fair share of assistance if the federal government agrees to this change in DFA eligibility.”
Application forms and further details about DFA are available online at www.manitobaemo.ca or from the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization at 204-945-4772 or 1 888 267 8298 (toll free). Applications are also available at most municipal offices.
