Officials in the City of Ottawa are urging the province to broaden the disaster assistance area following the flash floods that occurred on Canada Day.
Severe thunderstorms hit the capital on July 1, dropping as much as 167 millimetres of rain and flooding many properties.
Last week, the province introduced DRAO, a disaster relief program aimed at helping homeowners in specific areas repair their damaged homes.
Unfortunately, some flooded neighborhoods were excluded from this initiative, including Centrepointe, Crystal Beach, and Parkwood Hills.
During an update about the flood response efforts, Ottawa paramedic Chief Pierre Poirier mentioned that when they submitted the map to the province, there was a lack of understanding regarding “the full scope” of the storm, resulting in certain areas being left out.
WATCH | Family seeks more help to recover from flooding:
Ottawa family looking for more help to recover from Canada Day flooding
This Ottawa family had their insurance claim denied after a creek overflowed into their backyard. They believe assistance from Ontario’s disaster relief program won’t cover their damages. The CBC’s David Fraser reports.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe stated he has contacted the province asking them to revisit DRAO’s criteria so it can be less strict. He pointed out that payments from this program have historically been much lower than what insurance provides.
“I have been advocating to the province from the beginning to create a wider area and not make distinctions between how different people have been affected by this major disaster,” he said.
While DRAO does include overland flooding scenarios, it typically does not account for sewer backups unless you’re low-income.
Michael Minzak, speaking on behalf of Ontario’s minister of municipal affairs and housing, informed in a statement Friday that the activation zone was set using information given by the city.
He did not provide any comments about whether there are plans to expand eligibility in Ottawa.
WATCH | Some of the damage in the days after the rain:
Thousands still recovering from record-breaking Canada Day storm
The CBC’s David Fraser spoke with residents around Ottawa who continue cleaning up after Wednesday’s historic storm.
Poirier noted that approximately 3.8 million kilograms of debris have been cleared away so far.
“Our focus is no longer on emergency response but rather on recovery,” he stated.
While Nepean faced heavy rainfall, infrastructure services director Carina Duclos indicated that staff will evaluate whether neighborhood-specific infrastructure played a role in flooding certain parts of Ottawa.
“The city of Ottawa has developed in various phases so there’s definitely uneven levels of infrastructure across neighborhoods combined with such an unusual storm.”
Most compassionate grant applications approved
Sutcliffe encouraged flood victims to access resources such as a $1,000 compassionate rent grant available for property owners and tenants impacted due to a “sewer surcharge event.”
The city reported receiving over 1,600 applications with more than half already approved.
On Thursday, it was announced that residents heavily affected by flash flooding could apply for property tax relief.
According to Red Cross representatives, around 300 households have sought support so far and they expect this number will double soon.
“The recovery process is going to be long and there [are] many steps,” explained Conrad Sauvé, President and CEO of Canadian Red Cross.
He added that some individuals receiving aid from Red Cross are struggling with their insurance coverage issues.
“In many cases they thought they were fully covered and are now learning otherwise,” he noted. “They’re grappling with uncertainty over how to pursue their claims or if they’re eligible for provincial programs.”
Part of the city’s relief strategy with Red Cross-which leads non-governmental efforts for flood recovery-includes public info sessions aimed at providing resources and safety tips for those impacted by floods.
Five upcoming sessions will take place at Ben Franklin Place in Nepean as well as John G. Mlacak Centre in Kanata between July 24 and July 30.
