Nearly a year after flooding caused thousands of dollars in damage to their properties, some area residents say they are frustrated their flood claims have not yet been processed.

Cartier resident Karen Tinchuk, who lives in the Golden Oak area, said she and many of her neighbours are still awaiting compensation for damaged sustained to their properties during last spring’s flooding.

Tinchuk said she is frustrated by the lack of communication she has had with the province.

"Our whole neighbourhood was flooded from the Assiniboine," she said. "There is about 50 houses in this area and about half of them were effected by flooding."

Tinchuk said her driveway sustained $30,000 in damage during last year’s flood. A claim was filed with the province but she has yet to learn when she might receive any compensation.

"We did put a claim in, and we are still negotiating with them," she said. "Our driveway will cost $30,000 to replace, but we still don’t know if we pay for it ourselves and they will compensate us later? There has not been a whole lot of communication and there is nowhere I can go to get clear and concise answers."

The province recently announced the hiring of eight new appraisers to assess flood-damaged property and 14 other staff to help process flood claims faster.

"Last year’s flood is not yet over for a lot of families," Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton said in a statement.

"This is the largest recovery effort Manitoba has taken on since 1950 and it’s going to be a multi-year process. These new staff will help keep things moving forward and join the more than 100 people working to process claims for flood-effected families."

The province has indicated that more than 30,000 flood claims have been filed and more than $650 million in compensation has already been paid out.  

The province also recently announced new assistance for municipalities, including a commitment to cover 90% of the $1.7 million cost for the City of Brandon’s flood preparation work done in advance of the 2011 flood.

Manitoba’s recovery plan includes inspecting infrastructure with repair or replacement costs expected to cost between $100 million and $150 million.

prescott.james@canstarnews.com