TRURO -People in central Nova Scotia will get the help they need to repair their homes or businesses after recent flooding.
"Nova Scotians work hard to buy homes, and build businesses. Sometimes though, their dreams are spoiled by circumstances beyond their control," said Lenore Zann, MLA for Truro Bible Hill, in a news release. "I have met with families who lost their furnaces and other appliances in this flooding. Now they should have help before the winter sets in."
The program announced today provides basic recovery assistance to homeowners, business owners and not-for-profit organizations affected by floods from heavy rain Sept. 9 to 11.
Until recently, disaster financial assistance was capped at $50,000 for homeowners, businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The province has increased the maximum assistance to $80,000 for people and small businesses and $200,000 for not-for-profit organizations. The new cap will also apply to future disaster assistance claims.
"I was on the ground during that flooding from 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 10," said Ron Cavanaugh, deputy mayor of Truro, also in a release. "I saw a lot of damage, and I believe this program and the increased cap will be a great help to people."
Claims information and application forms are available at http://emo.gov.ns.ca and at Access Nova Scotia centres.
The program, which covers uninsurable damage in Colchester, Cumberland, Hants and Pictou counties and Halifax Regional Municipality, will cost about $2.6 million. The province will apply to the federal government to cover a portion under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement.
