Dates are now set for registration centres to open across southern Alberta so residents can apply for funding to rebuild after the June floods.
A flood recovery registration centre has been scheduled to appear in Drumheller on July 7 and 8 at the Memorial Arena from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.
“The unprecedented nature of this disaster required an unprecedented response from the government,” said Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “We had disaster recovery staff on the ground in west central Alberta where the floods started within days. Now we are setting up registration centres across southern Alberta so residents in downstream communities can apply for the money they need to rebuild.”
Applicants should go to the registration centre. Anyone planning to apply later should continue cleaning and repairing their property, saving receipts and taking photos of damage.
The application process for those unable to attend a registration centre will be announced at a later date. A permanent office for the 2013 Southern Alberta Disaster Recovery Program will also be established in Calgary later this summer. There will also be more registration centres in southern Alberta announced later in July.
Disaster recovery programs provide financial assistance for homeowners to repair or rebuild their primary residence and other uninsurable property damage and loss. They also help communities, small businesses and agricultural producers recover from disasters. They are intended to cover the costs of returning essential property to the condition it was in before a disaster happened.
“We understand that these floods have been traumatic for everyone, and that’s why we are moving as fast as possible to get help into these communities,” said Griffiths. “If you’re unable to apply in person, or do not have urgent needs and plan to apply later, there will be other ways to access this funding.”
