NLIS 2
October 19, 2001
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
Questions and answers concerning assistance for damages
caused by Tropical Storm Gabrielle
Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Emergency Measures Organization (NLEMO), announced today that a series of questions and answers concerning the federal government's guidelines for disaster financial assistance will be mailed to all individuals that have requested an information package on the program.
"This information will assist applicants in completing their claim forms and should clarify many of their questions concerning essential items and property that they can expect to be covered under this program," said Minister Langdon.
To date, 169 applications have been received by NLEMO, while over 1,762 have been requested.
Applicants are encouraged to call the Newfoundland and Labrador Emergency Measures Organization at (709) 729-3703 if additional information is required.
Media contact: Lynn Hammond, Communications, (709) 729-4250.
The following is information from the federal government's Disaster Financial Assistance Guidelines used by the federal-provincial committee in establishing post disaster assistance for individuals.
Eligible costs may include:
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restoration or replacement of or repairs to immovable real property, for any normally occupied
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dwelling place, |
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appurtenant (attached/accessory) buildings and farm buildings and items essential to a farm
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business, where such dwelling place is used entirely for living accommodation, or partly for living |
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accommodation and the earning of livelihood by a member or members of the family unit, |
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restoration or replacement or repairs to belongings, furnishings and clothing of an essential nature
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as these may be determined for each disaster (e.g. stoves, refrigerators, beds, heavy winter |
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clothing),
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Eligible costs shall not include those:
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which are recoverable at law or insurance which are of a class or kind for which provision is made
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in whole or in part under any other government program, |
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incurred in dealing with damages to property or facilities in respect of which assistance was
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previously made available to prevent such damage,
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incurred in dealing with damages which are an ordinary or normal risk of a trade, calling or
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enterprise,
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incurred for restoration or rehabilitation which cannot be considered essential to the restoration of
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an individual to his/her home or livelihood or the reconstruction of essential community services.
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Examples of non-essential items might be summer cottages, non essential roads and bridges,
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trailers, certain chattels, landscaping, fences and pleasure items,
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incurred for the restoration of property owned by large businesses and industries,
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which can be considered normal operating expenses of the government department or agency
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concerned and including maintenance budget,
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provincial retail and other similar taxes.
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In determining the levels and types of costs for which assistance is to be made available, certain factors should be borne in mind such as:
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the responsibility of any individual or organization to take reasonable precautions if time was
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available, the response made by an individual to any warnings or instructions issued by the |
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appropriate authorities to protect himself and his property,
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the availability of insurance coverage at reasonable rates.
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The following questions have been answered in accordance with the federal government's Disaster Financial Assistance Guidelines that are being used to determine essential items that may be covered under this program.
Can I expect to receive compensation to replace my damaged or destroyed appliances?
Major appliances, such as stoves and refrigerators, which cannot be repaired, are eligible. Where such appliances can be repaired, the cost of repair is eligible.
What items are definitely not covered under the program?
Luxury items such as sporting goods, stereos, luxury fur coats, etc., are not eligible for federal assistance. Items that have been excluded from individual requests for assistance are jewellery, cosmetics, lost income, meals and accommodation (except in the immediate disaster period), documents and books, recreation and pleasure items, tools, seasonal decorations, typewriters, electric razors, and lawnmowers.
Are any home entertainment items acceptable to the provisions of this program?
Some home entertainment items are acceptable if a maximum amount to be applied to replacement of the equipment is set by the province. For example, television sets have been accepted as eligible where the amount provided by the province was sufficient for only a basic model television.
Are destroyed materials required for my profession applicable for compensation?
Reference books, tools and informatics equipment required for a vocation are considered eligible.
Are clean up costs eligible under this program?
When an individual is faced with extensive property damage, he/she is required to put considerable time and effort into simply cleaning up the property. It would not be logical to allow an individual to hire someone to do the work and treat those costs as eligible while not recognizing work the individual does. Therefore, it has become practice under the arrangements to accept, as an eligible cost, compensation provided by provinces to individuals for cleaning up their own property, provided a maximum number of hours of compensation is established in provincial assistance policies and each case is substantiated by a damage appraisal report. The eligible rate for sharing that compensation is at the provincial minimum wage.
Can I expect to receive compensation for garden and lawn damage caused by the flood?
Generally, costs for landscape repair in the private sector are not eligible for sharing, other than for debris clearance.
Do I have to have all of the restoration and repair work completed with corresponding invoices before I submit my claim?
No, if the work has not been completed when the application is submitted, then estimates can be provided.
Is lost food eligible under the program?
As a general rule, foodstuffs are not eligible for assistance. However, food in freezers or root vegetables stored in root cellars could be eligible provided a reasonable maximum value per individual or per household is applied by the province. Such eligible costs would not normally include perishable food or canned goods. However, in special cases, where emergency food supplies have been lost, such losses could be accepted. Examples of emergency food supplies might be those stored in survival shelters or in remote habitations/isolated communities. Vegetable crops in gardens are not eligible.
Will damage to my garage or driveway be covered under this program?
Eligible costs may include damage to garages and driveways. Other appurtenant (attached/accessory) buildings are not accepted unless the owner is a full-time farmer, hunter or trapper, or is engaged in an occupation in which the appurtenant buildings are essential to his/her livelihood.
Is the repairing or replacement vehicles covered under this program?
The cost of repairing or replacing personal vehicles lost or damaged in a disaster is not acceptable for federal financial assistance. An exception might be farm equipment owned by a full-time farmer or non-road industrial vehicles, such as those used in small lumber operations, if they were not insurable.
Is loss of income or opportunity covered under this program?
Money provided as compensation for loss of income, loss of opportunity or inconvenience is not acceptable for federal assistance.
Will my claim be processed and considered if I do not sign the affidavit?
Yes, however no compensation will be awarded until the affidavit has been signed.
What is the deadline to submit my claim?
The deadline to submit a claim under this program is November 30, however the applicants are encouraged to submit their claims as soon as possible.
What should I include in my claim?
Applicants should provide detailed information of their total property loss and damage (pictures and/or videos of the property both before and after the flood if available), with the understanding that compensation will be provided for items deemed essential in accordance with federal government guidelines.
What if I have not been able to hire an adjuster or contractor to provide an estimate of my damages?
Adjusters have been contracted by NLEMO. Please submit your claim based on the present documentation you have. An adjuster will be in contact with you.
If I submitted a claim to St. John's City Hall, am I required to provide additional information?
Yes. Any information and documentation that was previously submitted to St. John's City Hall has been brought to NLEMO. However in all circumstances, the information provided was not adequate and therefore applicants must complete and return the claim form provided by NLEMO.
What losses to small businesses are covered under the program?
Assistance in the restoration of small businesses where the owner's livelihood has been destroyed. This includes payments made to restore farm lands to workable condition where a farm operation has been seriously affected by flood erosion or land gouging costs of damage inspection and appraisal and administrative assistance excluding those incurred by permanent staff of government departments.
Who can I talk to if I have additional questions?
For additional information, please call the Emergency Measures Organization at (709) 729-3703.
2001 10 19
3:10 p.m.
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