NLIS 5
September 27, 2001
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

 


 Minister provides update on disaster assistance resulting from Hurricane Gabrielle 

Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister Oliver Langdon, minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), announced today that the province has established a disaster assistance committee to consider applications from individuals, small businesses and municipalities who were affected by Hurricane Gabrielle.

The committee includes representation from appropriate organizations and departments from the federal and provincial governments, as well as a representative from the City of St. John's, where most claims are expected to originate. The provincial Emergency Measures Organization will coordinate the assistance program. 

The Disaster Assistance Program is a cost-shared program between the provincial and federal governments. "While we have not yet received official and formal federal approval of the program it is important that we proceed at this time. Based on discussions with senior federal officials, I am confident that approval is forthcoming," said Minister Langdon.

"I strongly encourage those who wish to submit an application to begin by talking to their insurance companies, engaging the services of a professional adjuster to assess the value of such damages, and collecting relevant documentation." 

Packages containing application forms and guidelines will be available through the Emergency Measures Organization next week. Questions concerning applications and guidelines may be directed to EMO at (709) 729-3703.

Media contact: Sean Kelly, Communications, (709) 729-1983

2001 09 27                                       11:50 a.m. 

Backgrounder
General Guidelines for submission of claims for disaster financial assistance

1. Organization

A Disaster Assistance Board comprising of representatives from the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, Emergency Measures Organization, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness (OCIPEP) and other related agencies as required, shall be convened to manage the claims review process.

2. Claiming

i) All claims are required to be submitted to:
         Newfoundland & Labrador Emergency Measures Organization
         Dept. of Municipal & Provincial Affairs
         P.O. Box 8700
         St. John's, NF
         A1B 4J6

ii) Affidavit - The attached affidavit is required to be submitted with all claims for compensation. Please review this document carefully and if you are in agreement, sign and have it witnessed by a Commissioner of Oaths.

iii) Documentation - In order for all claims to be assessed, all claimants must fully document their losses. This should include:

a) An independent assessment of damage, preferably by an Insurance Adjuster
b) Bills or invoices for repairs to the damage incurred
c) Pictures, videos of before and after if possible
d) Any and all information which may be useful in assessing claims.

3. Advancement of Funds 

The Province with the agreement of OCIPEP may provide the advancement of any claim of up to 60%. Supported documentation (assessments, bills, invoices, etc) will be required prior to this advancement.

4. Eligible Costs

i) Amount of Claim. Claims may not exceed the estimate of costs required to restore an item or facility to its immediate pre-disaster condition.

ii) The cost of permanent repair or replacement of private property or public facilities to higher than pre-disaster condition may be included in an amount no greater than that estimated to be required for the repair or replacement to their immediate pre-disaster condition.

Disaster Assistance for Individuals. Eligible costs may include:

i) Restoration or replacement of or repairs to immovable real property, for any normally occupied dwelling place, appurtenant buildings and farm buildings and items essential to a farm business, where such dwelling place is used entirely for living accommodation and the earning of livelihood by a member or members of the family unit.

ii) Restoration or replacement or repairs to chattels, furnishings and clothing of an essential nature as these may be determined for each disaster (e.g. stoves, refrigerators, beds, heavy winter clothing).

iii) 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.

iv) Costs of damage inspection and appraisal and administrative assistance excluding those incurred by permanent staff of government departments. 

Eligible costs shall not include those:

i) which are recoverable at law or insurance

ii) which are of a class or kind for which provision is made in whole or in part under any other government program

iii) incurred for restoration or rehabilitation which cannot be considered essential to the restoration of an individual to his/her home or livelihood or the reconstruction of essential community services. Examples of non-essential items might be summer cottages, non-essential roads and bridges, trailers, certain chattels, landscaping, fences and pleasure items.

iv) incurred for the restoration of property owned by large businesses and industries

v) which can be considered normal operating expenses of the government department or agency concerned and including maintenance budgets

vi) provincial retail and other similar taxes.


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