Provincial funding has been unlocked for Warwick Township residents affected by August flooding.
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The municipality, which reported 180 mm of rain in five hours Aug. 23, flooding roads and basements, announced this week the Municipal Affairs Ministry had approved its application for disaster recovery assistance.
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The program helps with emergency expenses and repair and replacement costs for essential property not covered by insurance after a natural disaster, officials said in a release.
Ministry information says the program offers up to $250,000 per application, is subject to a $500 deductible that can be waived for low-income households, and reimburses up to 90 per cent of total eligible costs.
Residents can apply by visiting ontario.ca/page/apply-disaster-recovery-assistance or calling 1-877-822-0116, before March 27, 2024, officials said.
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The township is working with the ministry to schedule information sessions on how to apply, and will announce those when details are known, said chief administrator Amanda Gubbels.
Meanwhile, there have been inquiries but no applications yet for municipal grants of up to $3,000 to install backwater valves and to disconnect sump pumps from sanitary sewers, she said. There is no application deadline.
Program funding of $60,000 is being recommended in the township’s 2024 budget, Gubbels said
“I know council has a goal of supporting as many people as we can,” she said, noting the budget could be increased if necessary.
Total municipal repair costs after the storm still aren’t known, but should be by the time the township applies for Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance funding to help with those costs, she said.
To date, expenses including gravel road repairs add up to $62,000.
Bigger costs, like repairing culberts and shifted pavement on Zion Linearen’t yet known, she said.
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