Province announces model to determine flood assistance

The provincial government has introduced a model to calculate disaster financial assistance for Manitobans affected by severe flooding.

The province said Monday it would use a rapid residential assessment model in order to speed up payments to those who suffered basement flooding between June 6 and July 1, a news release stated.

The model calculates initial assistance payments based on factors like water depth, basement size, room type, restoration need, alongside the level of finishing.

It also includes emergency work, like water extraction costs and costs associated with removing damaged material, with the aim to help homeowners make their basements livable again quickly.

The assistance will reflect the average replacement cost of basic essential items, rather than original purchase cost or the price of premium replacements.

The program does not cover luxury or non-essential items like decorative landscaping, outdoor furniture, decks, antiques or collectors items.

Assistance may also be available for eligible building necessities, like furnaces, hot water tanks and water treatment systems, as well as structural repairs caused by the flooding.

Assistance is capped at $3 million for eligible claims, less the deductible, up to the cost of repairs or the assessed value of the property, whichever is lower. A deductible of $2,500 or 20 per cent of the eligible assistance amount, whichever is greater, applies to all claims.

People in eligible municipalities will be assessed under the Manitoba Flood Recovery Program, while local authorities and organizations will be assessed under the Disaster Financial Assistance program. Those who do not qualify for municipal flood recovery may still apply for disaster financial assistance.

Premier Wab Kinew said earlier this month about 1,800 people have applied for disaster financial assistance.

Most eligible Manitobans have already received an initial $500 payment, said the release, and additional applicants are encouraged to submit photos, receipts, invoices and estimates as soon as possible.