Sask. expanding disaster assistance regulations for those affected by flooding, storms

People recovering from flooding or storm damage could soon have access to more financial help. Laura Woodward reports.

Those recovering from flooding or storm damage in Saskatchewan could soon have access to more financial support, as the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency update the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program.

Announced on Thursday, the new regulations will increase financial assistance and provide communities with relief support, while expanding eligibility for individuals, small businesses, and others eligible for claims.

The regulations, which apply retroactively to April 1, allow those affected by recent flooding to submit their claims.

The changes include:

• Increasing the maximum assistance for individuals from $240,000 to $500,000
• Increasing the maximum assistance for small businesses from $500,000 to $3 million
• Compensation based on standard replacement value, not depreciated value
• A municipal incentive, which allows local authorities to lower their deductible by meeting emergency management and preparedness criteria
• A maximum deductible for larger municipalities which are tied to federal thresholds
• Additional assistance of up to 25 per cent of a claim’s value for projects that reduce future disaster risk

“Our government is here to help and support our communities in the face of disasters,” Community Safety Minister and Minister Responsible for the SPSA Michael Weger said in an update from the province.

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“The recovery process after an incident can be challenging and long. The changes announced today will lessen some of that burden and improve resiliency for communities recovering from disasters.”

To make a claim, individuals must work with their community leadership to access the necessary forms. A portal to help those affected by flooding, developed by the SPSA’s Recovery Task Team, can be found here.