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Council committee to dole out disaster aid

Provincial Disaster Financial Assistance program available only to B.C. residents.

Council will be creating a committee to dole out funds donated for disaster relief.

The district has already received a number of applications and inquiries relating to disaster assistance, interim administrator Doug Ruttan explained at the last council meeting. He recommended that council appoint a committee to set the criteria and review applications for the Sicamous 2012 Flood Victims trust account set up at Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union’s Sicamous branch.

Meanwhile, disaster aid is also being made available by the B.C. government through provincial Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) for qualifying claimants, including homeowners, residential tenants, small businesses, farmers, charitable organizations and local government bodies who were unable to obtain insurance to  cover their disaster-related losses.

In a memo to the district from Emergency Management BC, it is noted DFA assistance is only available for a principal residence; seasonal and secondary homes are not eligible.

Coun. Fred Busch noted friends of his with a second home in Alberta that received flood damage discovered they weren’t eligible for any aid there.

“So it works both ways,” he commented.

Emergency Management BC is encouraging Sicamous and area residents affected by the recent flooding to submit applications as soon as possible in order to complete a damage assessment. For more information, call 1-800-257-4777.

 



Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor of the Salmon Arm Observer, Shuswap Market, and Eagle Valley News. I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to keep our readers informed and engaged.
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