Flood compensation not enough to rebuild: Cochrane-area woman

A Cochrane-area woman says she has had to turn to her neighbours for help since compensation offered by the province won't cover the costs of replacing the home she lost in the 2013 flood.

Linda Lavis's small property along the GhostRiver in Benchlands remains littered with fallen trees and debris from the disaster, but construction has started on her new house.

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However, she is battling for compensation from the province's disaster recovery program.

"In the beginning it looked promising," Lavis told CBC News.

However, that was before she found out she would only be offered a set amount per square foot, the same amount offered in other communities.

But in this remote location costs are higher, Lavis said, and that means the compensation offered by the province won't cover the costs of replacing her septic system, drilling a well and demolishing the home that was destroyed in the flood. She also has to rebuild several outbuildings and fences for her horses.

"I don't have the money for the demolition and now it's the septic and the well," she said. "Do I think it's fair? No, I don't."

As a result, she said, she has started her own crowd-funding campaign.

"I've neverever been comfortable asking for help ever, and it was a hard thing to do," Lavis said.

She won't have to do it alone. Cochrane-area resident Stu Bradley is going to organize a fundraiser in the New Year to help his neighbour.

"Let's see if we can help one lady and she's in our area," Bradley said. "Retired school teacher, she's done her job, now we need to do something for her."

Lavis has suffered a series of health problems since the flood. She's hoping her 18-month nightmare ends soon.

"I honestly think I deserve to have my home back, my property back," she said.