Provincial officials inspect flood damage

Ontario government officials toured Windsor Tuesday to determine if victims of last week’s flood will be eligible for a special program designed to help people to get back on their feet.

Two teams led by advisers from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing toured local streets worst hit in the two-day storm that dumped more than 200 millimetres of rain on certain neighbourhoods in Windsor and surrounding communities.

They got a first-hand look at basements, plus mounds of carpets, furniture and toys piled high in front of homes in South Windsor, Riverside, South Walkerville, Tecumseh and LaSalle.

Their task is to make recommendations to the ministry as to whether more than 5,100 homes and small businesses will be eligible for government funding under the Disaster Recovery Assistance program.

Several weary homeowners were grateful to see the government teams visit their neighbourhoods and learn there was a chance for government grants to help them rebuild their basements and replace their personal belongings.

“I was very happy for them to see what’s going on in Windsor, especially Turner Road,” said Billy Ross, after the government team visited the inside of his flood-damaged home in the 2300 block where has resided for over 40 years.

“It’s been terrible for us, a lot of work. I am happy to see they were concerned and go into our home to see the damage. I’ve never seen anything like this, so I hope (there will be funds available).”

The government group also visited the home of Frank Talerico, who lives in the 2300 block of Aubin Road.

“The government should get involved,” said Talerico, who believes municipal sewer infrastructure failed during the storm. “This is not right. Hopefully, they can help people. There are a lot of people here that need help.

“This should be about helping people at the bottom (economically) who can’t afford insurance and replace stuff. You are OK if you are at the top — you can afford this. But not if you are at the bottom.”

Should the recovery assistance program get activated in the days ahead, victims of the flood can file an application to receive financial help to recover costs of cleanup, repairs and replacing “essential property” caused by the flood.

The teams will identify a “defined geographical area” for those who may qualify for possible funding.

Under the disaster assistance program, a $500 deductible is applied — unless an applicant qualifies to have the deductible waived under rules for low-income households.

There is no set amount an individual may receive.

The program might pay as much as 90 per cent of recovery costs up to a maximum of $250,000.

Sharon Robinson had a small mountain of destroyed carpets and other items in front of her home in the 1800 block of Ford Boulevard where the flood assessment team stopped to visit.

“It was very nice for them to see if people here need any help or are covered (by insurance),” she said after allowing the team into her home to see her basement that included a finished rec room destroyed by several inches of water.

For more information about the program, go to ontario.ca/disasterassistance.

It’s been terrible for us, a lot of work. I am happy to see they were concerned and go into our home to see the damage.