$1.00 + HST Vol. 26 | No. 20 Thursday, October 14, 2010
Michael Wigle photo
The deGrace's of North Grant Road return home for the first time after the September 25 flood
Clean up continues after devastating flood destroys homes, businesses BY CAITLIN THOMPSON As residents begin to absorb the reality of last months recordbreaking flood many are realizing that their lives will never be the same. Businesses and private homeowners are lining up for Disaster Financial Assistance, shoveling mud and river silt out of their buildings, and continuing to assess the damage to their properties and residences. The premier announced last month that Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) would be available to residents and busi-
nesses but it seems there is a grey area, especially when it comes to small businesses and small farms. The DFA program covers 80 percent of the amount of the total eligible damage that exceeds $1,000; the maximum amount payable per applicant category is $300,000. There are five categories of applications for the private sector: Home Owners, Residential Tenants, Small Business Owners, Farm Owners, and Charitable or Volunteer Organizations. To be eligible for assistance, the damage must be from an
uninsurable event such as overland flooding. However, in the event that private flood insurance was available for the business and the proprietor chose not to purchase it, they may not be completely covered by DFA. In addition, the small business owner must prove that their venture is their primary source of income. In this Valley, where residents frequently are working several ‘jobs’ to survive, this makes things complicated. Small farms are in the same category. They may not be a major source of income but are certainly make up a part of
numerous residents’ income and provide a valuable source of local food for the Valley. At present it is unclear whether or not people with losses to their small farms will be eligible for DFA. Jim and Amber Knudsen operate the Rip Rap Campsite in Hagensborg and were left with a sinkhole the size of meteor strike in their field, not to mention damage to their home, cabins, and driveways. Jim Knudsen estimates it will take 200 to 300 hundred loads of gravel just to fill the sinkhole, but at present that is the least of his worries.
“We thought we would be receiving some sort of relief and now we aren’t sure,” said Knudsen. “Financially we can’t afford to fix this and we are not sure if we will open next year. Right now fixing our home is the priority.” Knudsen isn’t alone. Purchasing the flood insurance would have resulted in a deductible his business couldn’t afford. “I really don’t know what to say,” he said. “We look around and our situation is bad but someone else is worse.” SEE
FLOOD
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