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Alberta changes Disaster Recovery Program to deal with outstanding cases from 2013 flood


November 2, 2015   by Canadian Underwriter


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Alberta’s Ministry of Environment and Parks announced on Monday that it is making changes to the Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) that will allow 80% of outstanding cases related to the 2013 southern Alberta flood to be resolved.

With a total financial impact of approximately $6 billion and insured losses of about $2 billion, the 2013 flood was the most costly natural disaster in Canadian history

With a total financial impact of approximately $6 billion and insured losses of about $2 billion, the 2013 flood was the most costly natural disaster in Canadian history.

The ministry said in a press release that the changes will also “ensure the DRP process operates more efficiently in the future, should Albertans be faced with another disaster.”

The government said that it will cease collection on overpayments for files of $5,000 or less, which affects nearly 550 outstanding case files. In about 75 cases where overpayments are more than $5,000, files will be handled on a case-by-case basis. “A dedicated office will remain open in High River to process the remaining claims as quickly as possible,” the release said.

The province will also be closing nearly 450 files that are classified as inactive. In many of these files, the applicant has not been in contact with government staff for several months. The government will attempt to establish contact with these applicants before sending a final notice. The applicant will then have 30 days to address outstanding concerns. After 30 days, department staff will follow up with applicants to ensure they received notice, at which time the file will be deemed closed, the ministry explained.

Related: Alberta moving to protect communities in and upstream of Calgary from severe flooding

“Having experienced the hardship of a disaster at a very personal level, I understand the kind of pressures families and business owners across Alberta faced after the 2013 flood,” said Danielle Larivee, Minister of Municipal Affairs, in the release. “That’s why I believe in doing everything possible to help the Town of High River rebuild. While we will move as quickly as we can to resolve the remaining files, it’s also of vital importance to take a close look at what changes need to be made so Albertans can be assured disaster assistance will be there when they need it.”

In addition to the DRP changes, the province has also committed $30 million in multi-year funding for flood infrastructure in the Town of High River. The funding – which builds on previous announcements, including nearly $450 million last week for flood protection for the Bow and Elbow Rivers – is geared at preventing future flooding like that in 2013 in southern Alberta.

“The Town of High River was one of the communities most severely affected by the damaging floods of 2013,” Alberta Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips said in the release. “Local flood mitigation projects on the Highwood River will provide a greater level of protection for families and businesses in High River and surrounding communities.”

Related: IBC applauds Alberta’s move to reduce flood risk

The funding for the Highwood River will support a number of flood mitigation projects, including design and construction of the southwest berm – considered a key component of an upgraded system of flood barriers in the town. The funding will also support the design and construction of the 5th Street berm and Lineham Bridge rehabilitation.

In addition, $2 million in funding for flood modelling will support a working group to assess upstream and downstream impacts of the planned flood defences, the Ministry of Environment and Parks release noted. The group will have representation from the province, Town of High River, Municipal District of Foothills and the Highwood Management Plan Public Advisory Committee.

The province also commissioned Dutch research foundation Deltares to study mitigation options for the Highwood River. Deltares reviewed two diversion options and recommended neither due to concerns about environmental sustainability and cost effectiveness.

Based on the Deltares study, the province, Town of High River, and Municipal District of Foothills are now assessing options for improving the flow of the Highwood River, as recommended by the firm.


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