NLIS 2
October 5, 2005
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
West coast flooding
update 12 noon
Officials with the Department of
Municipal and Provincial Affairs, along with the Newfoundland and
Labrador Emergency Measures Organization director and staff remain
on the scene in Stephenville. The following provides an update of
current happenings in the affected areas:
- A meeting to report progress and
update on the flooding situation was held yesterday, October 4,
with Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister Jack Byrne,
officials with the Newfoundland and Labrador Emergency Measures
Organization, western regional engineers, officials with
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment (HRLE),
health and environmental inspectors, the Town of Stephenville,
and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
- A general enquiries office
opened October 4 at the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation site in Stephenville, with a staff member on-site to
address general enquiries. Approximately 30 individuals met with
staff to discuss aspects of the claims process.
- RCMP are maintaining security on
the evacuated area of town, with additional security supported
by the volunteer ground search and rescue teams.
- The Town of Stephenville has
adjusted the State of Emergency which now is applicable only to
the damaged and evacuated areas. The town is continuing with all
efforts to reinstate municipal services where possible.
- The town's engineering firm is
currently conducting as assessment of municipal infrastructure
damage in the flood area; conducting a structural inspection of
damaged homes in the flood area; and initiating a process of
assessing oil and ground contamination in the flood areas.
- The Town of Stephenville will be
holding a public meeting tonight, Wednesday, October 5 for
evacuees from the affected areas. Officials from Municipal and
Provincial Affairs and Emergency Measures Organization, along
with Minister Joan Burke will be in attendance.
- Environment /health inspector
officials from the Department of Government Services have
completed an assessment of the evacuated area. Health inspectors
have conducted visual and physical inspections of homes in the
evacuated area. Certain structures are currently deemed unfit
for habitation based upon water/sewer/oil contamination which is
in the homes. Residential oil tanks at risk have been emptied to
prevent further spills.
- Officials with the Department of
Human Resources, Labour and Employment advise that 153 families
have been evacuated, with 132 households placed in alternate
accommodations. The remaining 21 families have not availed of
HRLE accommodations and have moved to other locations of their
own choice.
- Subject to the assessment of the
municipal infrastructure and in particular water/sewer systems,
it is hoped that the number of families may be reduced if their
homes are found to be livable and water/sewer can be reinstated
safely.
- Newfoundland and Labrador
Emergency Measures Organization has confirmed that current year
school books damaged in the flood will be replaced up to a total
value of $500.00.
- The Independent Insurance
Adjusters Association has been contracted to provide adjusting
services on claims as they are submitted. Claims have been
received and assigned to adjusters as of today. It is expected
that adjusters will be on site in Stephenville, processing the
claims, effective this afternoon.
Media contact: Heather MacLean,
Communications, (709) 729-1983, 690-2498 or heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
2005 10 05
12:10 p. m. |