Disaster relief promised for Dorian victims

As Islanders continue to clean up in the wake of post-tropical storm Dorian, the provincial government is promising emergency funding to help cover the costs of damages.

A statement from the province said a disaster assistance program will be rolled out in the coming week to help with costs to repair and replace uninsurable and essential basic property loss due to disasters.

Premier Dennis King said P.E.I. has never seen provincewide impacts like those experienced from Dorian and it’s an unprecedented situation that has touched all Islanders.

Dorian caused millions of dollars in damage and set an all-time single-day record for insurance claims. It brought down trees and power poles across the province, leaving 62,000 Maritime Electric customers in the dark at one point. By Sunday, a few hundred customers were still waiting for power to be restored one week after the storm.

“We are in this together and we are here to help Islanders,” King said.

The assistance program will also apply to small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipal governments.

Provincial cabinet met Friday to start activating the program, which also triggers access to federal disaster relief funding.

Further details about how and where Islanders can apply for financial assistance will be announced this week.

About 6,000 Islanders who receive income assistance will also be able to access a one-time emergency fund to support their basic needs after the storm.

Under that program, individual income assistance clients will receive $110, a couple will get $140 and a further $30 will be provided for each of their dependents, if they have any.