Manitoba government offers flood assistance to home, farm and business owners

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation announced on Friday that home, farm and business owners in areas affected by flooding in 2014 – or that would have flooded without temporary flood protection measures – may be eligible to receive assistance from the nearly $15-million 2015 Individual Flood Protection Initiative.

“We know that preventative measures can bring peace of mind to qualifying home, farm and business owners and help reduce the cost of rebuilding after flooding,” Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton said in press release. “This program will help Manitobans who live and work in the flood plain better prepare for future floods.”

Related: Manitoba issues 2015 flood outlook

Eligible flood protection methods include constructing private ring dikes, raising buildings on new foundations and moving buildings out of flood-risk areas.

The 2015 Individual Flood Protection Initiative will provide grant funding of eligible project costs up to a maximum of $86,000 for home, farm and business projects, the release noted. All costs in excess of the maximum cost shared project cost of $100,000 are the responsibility of the owner.

Manitoba government representatives will work with property owners to determine the most practical and cost-efficient flood protection method, Ashton said in the release. If qualifying owners constructed eligible permanent flood protection works during or after the 2014 flood, they can apply for retroactive financial assistance under the program, he added.

Related: Manitoba agriculture minister says still assessing damage caused by summer flood

The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 30 and the program expires March 31, 2020.

Insured losses from flooding in Manitoba and Saskatchewan over the Canada Day weekend in 2014 were estimated at more than $140 million, Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) said last September.