Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Flood compensation deadline extended

Homeowners applaud two-month reprieve

By: Alexandra Paul

Posted: 08/23/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Enlarge Image

Greenhouse operator Shea Doherty (PHIL HOSSACK/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES )

Flood Fight

Flood Fight

The latest news about flooding in southern Manitoba this spring.

Manitoba has extended its flood compensation deadline by two months, giving homeowners until the end of November to line up contractors and file estimates for flood damage.

"There has been an extension of the deadline for opening a claim to Nov. 30... It was previously Sept. 2," a provincial spokeswoman said Monday.

"It should be noted that this deadline is strictly for opening a claim. The eligible activities can be completed later," she said in an email.

The extension applies to all of Manitoba's 2011 flood-related compensation programs.

In Portage la Prairie, Shea Doherty heaved a sigh of relief at the news.

"Phew. That sounds, like, way better," he said.

Doherty's family runs Our Farm Greenhouse, which was in the path of the breach of the Assiniboine River at Hoop and Holler bend. His basement was flooded in a freak accident when a contractor slit open an aqua dam next to his foundation, long after the breach was sealed.

Contractors all the way from Brandon to Winnipeg are so busy, he hasn't had any renovations done yet.

"I called 14 contractors and they were busy," he said.

The same thing happened to Hoop and Holler homeowner Glenda Melnic. She knows of a lot of people who suffered damage to their homes who are nowhere near as far along as she is in getting renovations done.

Melnic's final clean-up bill for the contractor's mistake will cost anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000. The province is helpful and has been paying invoices as she files them -- but she has to keep on top of them, she said.

"The compensation, we've been lucky. We haven't hit any walls but you have to get on them and push them," said Melnic, who is nine months pregnant and due to give birth any day. "I used the pregnancy thing. I tell them, 'I can't wait, I'm having a baby.' "

In a true demonstration of neighbourly support, Melnic asked her contractor to swing by Doherty's place and, by the end of the day, Doherty had appointments for a couple of contractors.

At FaithWorks Renovations, a Portage la Prairie-based contracting firm, Cindy Pate said compensation has been slow to arrive and some homeowners are disgruntled by the wait.

At the same time, contractors are swamped because there's so much work to do.

"We're going out doing quotes right now, and it's a small company," Pate said. In addition to the owner, there are three carpenters at FaithWorks as well as two summer helpers.

FaithWorks is booking minor renovations for October and November. Extensive jobs have to wait until January and February.

With water levels at record highs, Lake Manitoba homeowners and cottagers must put off repairs. One Portage la Prairie flooring contractor said he expects work to bulge next summer.

Manitoba's total unbudgeted flood bill now stands at $632 million. The province expects to recover $478 million from Ottawa, the finance department reported last week.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 23, 2011 A5

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.