Flood victims can apply for $1,000 in immediate financial aid

The disaster relief committee has ironed out all the details of the claim forms that will be available to the public on Saturday.

Claim forms will be available at Saturday meetings

CBC News Posted: Jun 22, 2012 4:11 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 22, 2012

Thunder Bay is offering up immediate financial assistance to help people with flood recovery. Hundreds of basements across the city were filled with sewage after a rain storm and flash flooding in May.

Thunder Bay'sDisaster Relief Committee has ironed out all the details of the claim forms that will be available to the public on Saturday.

The committee met for just less than two hours Friday morning, primarily to finalize the forms that will allow flood-affected residents to claim expenses. Both kinds of forms the forms for immediate assistance and the longer, more detailed, claim forms-- will be available at the public meetings.

Three types of claim forms

Detailed Disaster Relief Forms Residents who were affected by the flood without insurance or inadequate coverage can apply for assistance for losses and damages under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program. Must be completed by Oct. 31.
Advance Disaster Relief Forms Residents who were affected by the flood without insurance or inadequate coverage can apply for an advance against any disaster assistance under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program. Must be completed by July 9.
Water Credit Forms Users of the Citys sanitary sewer system who were affected by the flood will receive a $207 credit, while residential property owners who are not connected to the sanitary sewer system (and were affected by the flood) will receive a credit of $118. A copy the water bill will be required.

Saturdays public meetings will take place at the Slovak Legion, 801 Atlantic Ave., 1-2:30 p.m. and at the Moose Hall, 434 Fort William Rd., 4-5:30 p.m. There will be an update, a question-and-answer period, followed by and opportunity to pick up claim forms.

Identification required

City Clerk John Hannam is reminding residents who are planning to attend that proper identification, proof of residence and a copy of their water bill will be required to fill out the claim forms.

"With the release of claim forms and as recovery proceeds, we are moving from emergency management to disaster relief," Hannam said.

"The Disaster Relief Committee looks forward to engaging the community in fund-raising to support those affected by the flooding."

The forms for immediate assistance are shorter and less detailed. Money received for immediate assistance is an advance on the final, overall claim so it's not a separate claim. Residents who fill out this form which is essentially a sworn affidavit are eligible for an advance payment of $1,000, which can be used for any flood-related damage.

Residents should be able to collect those advance payments within a week.

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