Truro Receives Disaster Financial Assistance

The Town of Truro is getting the final instalment of financial help for flooding damage sustained in 2003 to municipal roads, parks, sports fields, and other municipal infrastructure.

Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, on behalf of acting Minister of Emergency Management David Morse, presented the $96,344 cheque today, March 17, to Mayor Bill Mills. The funding is provided to the municipality under the Nova Scotia Disaster Financial Assistance Program.

"Devastating events like flooding can take a toll on individuals and communities, especially if municipalities are unable to recover expenses to repair damage caused by severe weather," said Mr. Muir. "The province's disaster financial assistance program has helped the Town of Truro recover some of its expenses as it rebuilds its flood-damaged infrastructure."

In the spring of 2003, continuous heavy rains caused severe flooding throughout Truro. A local state of emergency was declared to ensure public safely, and facilitate a municipal and provincial response to the emergency. Several roads, schools, businesses and public offices were closed and roads were either washed out or closed due to flooding.

"On behalf of the citizens of Truro, I thank the government for stepping up to the plate on emergency issues. It gives the town and citizens comfort to know that in times of emergency we can act quickly and decisively to help those affected by disaster. Governments serving the people, that's what it's all about," said Mr. Mills.

The Disaster Financial Assistance Program is a cost-sharing initiative with Public Safety Canada that enables communities, businesses, and individuals to recover extraordinary costs after emergency events. The final instalment of disaster financial assistance provided today brings the entire provincial contribution to $1.3 million since 2003.