Disaster Assistance for Cape Breton Residents

EMERGENCY MEASURES ORGANIZATION--Disaster Assistance for Cape Breton Residents

The Emergency Measures Organization announced today that it has established a disaster financial assistance program for those who suffered uninsurable losses during the heavy rains and resulting flooding in Cape Breton this month.

"This program is being established in strict accordance with the province's disaster financial assistance policy," said Jamie Muir, Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act. "The policy acts as our yardstick to determine at what level an assistance program is warranted."

Damages were concentrated in, but not restricted to, Cape Breton Regional Municipality and areas of Victoria County.

Eligible costs associated with the weather system exceed the threshold of $1 per capita, or about $939,000, stipulated in the policy. The total eligible cost is estimated at close to $3 million.

The policy allows for modest assistance to individuals to help restore primary residences and to small businesses that have been placed in jeopardy because of uninsurable damage caused by a disaster. Assistance is also available to help municipalities in restoring essential public services to a pre-disaster condition.

Eligible costs are determined in strict accordance with the criteria laid out in the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements. These arrangements provide for the provinces and the federal government to share the costs.

Insurable damages are not covered under this program, regardless of whether the property was insured or not.

Claims for assistance are subject to a $1,000 deductible; claims under this amount will not be considered. The deadline for claim submission is December 21, 2000.

Claims information and forms are available through municipal offices in the affected areas or by calling 1-888-670-7767.

More information on the policy is available by visiting the Emergency Measures Organization website at www.gov.ns.ca/emo and following the links to the news releases.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A fact sheet on the Disaster Financial Assistance Policy is available; please e-mail [email protected] for a copy.