Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton, minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization, has announced a $205,000 Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) program to assist the community of Waterhen, which is undergoing flooding.

 

“The combination of a slower-than-average freeze-up and high water levels has produced ice jamming, frazil ice situations and flooding along the Waterhen River impacting the community of Waterhen,” said Ashton. “The community, volunteers from surrounding areas and provincial staff have worked together to keep most of the town safe from the high water.  This assistance will address certain operational and recovery costs, and we will continue working with the community to address the present flooding emergency and the possibility of flooding this spring.”

 

A total of 16 homes have been sandbagged but one has been inundated with water.  Two of the four families that voluntarily left their homes as a precaution have returned.  The Amphibex icebreaker is being used as required to relieve some of the water pressure downstream.

 

The state of emergency that was declared by the community council remains in effect.  The Waterhen River is predicted to start rising again with the potential for further rises of one to two feet before freeze-up.  Local and provincial officials will be monitoring river levels and ice formation to determine what further actions might be required.

 

Disaster financial assistance is generally available for costs incurred to prevent or limit flood damage, evacuation costs and non-insurable costs to restore homes, small businesses, farms and essential public infrastructure to a functional and habitable state.

 

A full accounting of high-water impacts may take until spring.  Eligible costs incurred by individuals, small businesses, full-time farmers, local government and provincial departments for flooding at the community of Waterhen will be covered by the DFA program. 

 

“As the actual extent of eligible damages may not be known until the spring and current conditions may make worse the normal spring melt, this DFA program will be extended to cover extraordinary costs or damages associated with the spring melt in the local area of Waterhen,” said the minister.