$68 million goes to Alberta communities for flood recovery

EDMONTON, ALTA. – The Alberta government is funding $68 million for disaster recovery to help several communities recover from June flooding.

From June 16 to 23, the communities of Edson, Whitecourt, Yellowhead County and Woodlands County experienced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall and spring runoff. The funding, through the Disaster Recovery Program, will provide funding to those communities to help residents, businesses and communities rebuild, a release said.

“This past hazard season was among the worst in Alberta’s history, as a provincewide state of emergency was declared for the first time in Alberta’s history. We know the damage from the flooding this spring has been destructive for these communities. Alberta’s government is here to provide support with disaster financial assistance that will provide some relief and make a positive difference for affected Albertans and their families,” said Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis in a statement.

Municipalities have already applied for and have been approved for funding. Residents and business owners can now submit applications for disaster financial assistance for help with uninsurable costs incurred from flood-related damage to homes and property.

Alberta’s Disaster Recovery Program helps communities recover from undue hardship due to an extraordinary disaster, defined as meeting certain criteria such as exceeding a one-in-25-year precipitation level in an urban area or a one-in-100-year stream flow for watercourses. Costs are split 90-10 between the Government of Alberta and community and individual applicants, the release said.

“Eligible expenses that may be covered could include uninsurable damages to infrastructure and public property, costs incurred during emergency operations like reception centre accommodation, food and transportation, and cleanup costs including repairs and damage to people’s homes,” the release added, and only uninsurable costs are eligible for funding under the disaster recovery program.

Homeowners, small business owners, tenants, landlords, not-for-profit institutions or agricultural operations within the towns of Edson, Whitecourt, Yellowhead County and Woodlands County have until Feb. 26, 2024, to submit their Disaster Recovery Program applications.

More information on the program is here.