Homeowners may be able to get help for storm-damage costs from disaster program

City guestimating $1 million to $3 million damage to public infrastructure

NEWS/ CITY — Homeowners out of luck in having storm damage covered by their house insurance may be able to get compensation through the City’s application to B.C.’s Disaster Financial Assistance Program.

City Hall has given the provincial government notice of an application that will be ready next week, and it might pave the way for homeowners to seek financial help as well, corporate services director David Duckworth said today.

Duckworth said it’s his understanding water damage from flooding isn’t usually covered by homeowners’ insurance policies if the damage is caused by runoff, though some forms such as sewer backup and leaky roofs are.

The first step for homeowners is to check with their insurance agents or adjusters to find out if their damage is covered. If not, they can apply to the disaster assistance program. Those applications, in turn, would be captured by the province under the City’s application for costs of repairing infrastructure such as storm sewers, said Duckworth.

He said while the City is currently looking at a $1 million to $3 million bill for public infrastructure damage, he doesn’t think there’s a cap on it.

Utilities director Jen Fretz confirmed the $1 million to $3 million is “totally a ballpark” estimate until the City gets a better handle on the big picture. “It’s a bit of a guestimate at this point,” she said.

Fretz said it accounts only for City infrasture, not private claims.

“We’re still in cleanup mode,” she said of work being done in the wake of Wednesday’s short but powerful deluge. “We fared fairly well” except for a few locations such as the Peterson Creek culverts at Sixth and Nicola and several storm drains.

The B.C. Disaster Financial Assistance Program website says that once the provincial government declares an event eligible for assistance, the program can provide financial help both for uninsurable private property and public infrastructure.

“To be eligible for assistance, the damage must be from an event which is uninsurable including overland flooding and groundwater seepage.”

Insurable damage such as sewer backup, water entry from above ground such as roofs or windows or other areas of the building  “that are not at ground level” aren’t eligible, it says.

Duckworth said more information will be available next week after the City’s application is completed.