Sarnia residents impacted by the unprecedented rainfall in August can now apply for funding under the province's Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program.
On August 4, sudden and heavy rainfall led to flooding across neighbourhoods in central Sarnia, especially in Coronation Park, Sherwood Village, and Cardiff Acres.
The province said 70 millimetres of rain fell in just two hours, and city officials received over 400 storm-related calls.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said this was a one in 100 year event.
"The fact is, that we're now seeing storms of the century every couple of years," said Bradley. "The city has taken some steps to implement grants for people who have had these issues. The funding here will certainly be of great help to those that weren't covered by insurance in recovering from this economically."
DRAO can be accessed by small, owner-operated businesses, small, owner-operated farms, not-for-profit organizations, homeowners (primary residence only) and residential tenants.
Financial help from the program is limited to $250,000 per application, is subject to a $500 deductible, which may be waived for low-income households, and reimburses up to 90 per cent of your total eligible costs.
There are limits for emergency expenses, household appliances, and furnishings.
The program is not intended to replace insurance coverage. Insurance payments are deducted from eligible costs. Homeowners with more than $275,000 in insurance coverage are not likely to be eligible under the program.
Sarnia Activation Area. (Photo courtesy of the City of Sarnia)
Those interested in applying, before the April 21, 2023 deadline, can visit ontario.ca/DisasterAssistance.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bradley said in November, Sarnia council approved an increase to the backwater valve grant to $1,600.
The increase was retroactive to August's storm.
"We continue to work with the residential areas to see if there are more steps that can be taken that will make a difference when flooding does occur," he said. "This latest funding is really a huge step forward to compensate those who went through these dramatic climate change storms. There is money, as there has been for the last 20 years, in this year's capital budget to have an impact in Coronation Park in particular as it relates to the infrastructure and the continued separation of the sewers."
Further information on the backwater valve grant program can be found by clicking here.
