DFA provides a maximum up to $3M ($2.4M net) assistance for eligible farms, small businesses, non-profit organizations and private residences. A deductible of $2500 or 20%, whichever is greater, applies to all claims. For example, a claim of $4,000 in total eligible damages will result in an assistance amount of $1,500 ($4,000 - $2,500 = $1,500). A claim of $100,000 will result in an assistance amount of $80,000 ($100,000 - 20% [$20,000] = $80,000.

In general, if you can purchase insurance for something, it will not be eligible for DFA. If it is eligible, DFA will only replace a basic equivalent. Assistance is capped at the assessed value of land or structures or the lesser of the cost to restore function or replace an asset.

DFA is a program of last resort and is meant to re-establish a basic standard of living and operations, recognizing that claimants must share in the cost of recovery. Not all emergencies or disasters will result in a DFA program being established.

Manitobans are encouraged to always check with insurance providers to see what coverage is available. Manitoba EMO staff will work with you so you understand the amount of assistance available to you.

Yes. A deductible of $2,500 or 20%, whichever is greater, is applied to all claims.

The deductible does not apply to costs associated with evacuation or temporary housing.

If you feel you have not received the assistance you are eligible for, you can appeal the decision. You can base your appeal on two grounds: that your application was deemed ineligible under an approved DFA program, or you feel your claim amount is less than you are eligible for. You cannot appeal the decision not to establish a DFA program.

Your request for an appeal must be in writing and clearly state the reason for the appeal. Once your claim is closed, you will receive information on submitting an appeal.

• Step 1 - Internal Review. You must submit a written appeal within 30 days of receiving EMO’s written decision on your DFA application or receiving your final payment.  Manitoba EMO will conduct the internal review and then confirm, set aside, or change the original decision.
• Step 2 Appeal to the Manitoba Disaster Assistance Appeal Board. You can submit a second-stage appeal to the Manitoba Disaster Assistance Appeal Board. The appeal must be filed within 60 days of receiving Manitoba EMO's written decision regarding your application and/or internal review. All decisions made by the Board are final and binding. To appeal, you must include:
  • The grounds for your appeal.
  • Reference to the provincial Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation or the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements to support your appeal request.
  • An internal review decision should be included if one was obtained.
• You may contact Manitoba EMO for additional information on this process.

When a natural disaster occurs, the Manitoba government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). A DFA program helps Manitobans recover by providing financial assistance for uninsurable losses to essential property and disaster-related response.

Not all natural disasters will result in a DFA program being established. DFA programs may be established when three criteria are met:

• The disaster is a result of a natural hazard with a clear start and end date that occurs in a specific geographic area;
• Uninsurable damages are widespread, and essential assets and/or essential services are damaged within the geographic area.
• Damages result in a significant financial burden to Manitobans.

Manitoba EMO relies on information provided by Local Authorities in Community Impact Assessments to assess damages and the need for DFA. Please contact your Local Authority to report any damages you have experienced during a disaster.

Manitoba's DFA is a program of last resort and is meant to re-establish a basic standard of living and function. DFA is not a substitute for private insurance and does not compensate applicants for lost revenue, inconvenience, non-essential items/damages, injuries, or lost wages.

Yes. Not all natural disasters will result in a DFA program being established.

Manitoba EMO will evaluate whether the event is significant enough to establish a DFA program: uninsurable damage must be widespread and represent a significant financial burden to those impacted.

DFA programs are announced through the government of Manitoba news releases. Manitoba EMO will work with local authorities to inform affected community members and organizations of the opportunity to apply for assistance.

Flooded basements can happen and often without warning. There are many affordable ways to prevent or limit water damage, such as:

• Installing a sump pump and backup valve
• Building up the ground around your house so water drains away from your home
• Ensure eavestroughs and downspouts are clear and water is directed away from your house
• Check weather protection sealants around doors, windows, and basements
• Elevate and store valuables in watertight containers in your basement

Learn more by visiting the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Water Damage and Flood Protection page. 

There are many things you can do to prepare:

• Understand the flood risks in your area. Manitoba's Red River and other basins are prone to flooding, especially during the spring melt.
• Make a family emergency plan using the Home Emergency Plan Workbook prepared by Manitoba EMO so you can reduce stress and save time when the unexpected happens.
• Maintaining emergency supplies and go kits (including medications, non-perishable food and water) will help your family manage power outages or evacuations.
• Make copies of important documents and store the originals somewhere safe, so you can access them when you need them.
• A detailed home inventory is useful when filing an insurance claim. For resources to assist you with preparing, refer to Manitoba EMO’s Emergency Management for Individuals webpage.
• Monitor local weather forecasts and updates from the Hydrologic Forecast Centre. Be aware of any flood warnings or advisories and take appropriate actions to stay safe.   

The Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction publishes procedures for proper installation of backwater valves. The information is relevant for homes serviced by underground, public sewer systems, typically located in urban areas.

Contact your insurance provider to verify whether the damages are eligible for insurance. Report your damages to your Local Authority.

Other important things you need to do are:

• Take pictures of the damages and any repairs you make.
• Keep detailed records of any repairs (invoices for labour, materials, contracted work, etc.).
• If a DFA program is established, you must have your insurance provider complete an Insurance Declaration Form.

Thank you for submitting an application for DFA. Upon submitting your application, you will receive confirmation that it has been received. Your application does not guarantee you will receive DFA assistance.

If a DFA program is established, staff from Manitoba EMO will contact you to conduct a screening. Screening calls are used to gather more information about the damages you experienced and to answer questions you may have. During your screening call, Manitoba EMO will advise you of the mandatory documents you must submit to support your claim.

After the screening call, your application is reviewed for eligibility. If your application is accepted, an in-person inspection may be scheduled. The information gathered in your inspection will be used to help determine the amount of assistance available to you.

No, you do not need to wait for an inspection before you begin to clean up or repair your damaged property.

To be considered for DFA assistance, you must document your damages, clean up and repairs as they occur by:

• Taking pictures of your damages and repairs (including items that are damaged and disposed of).
• Recording your actions. Be sure to include the number of hours that you worked, the individual who performed the work, a description of the work that was performed, and the equipment that was used (including make, model and horsepower where applicable).
• Saving and submitting your receipts and proof of payment (i.e. debit or credit slips) for replaced items and rented equipment. Avoid using cash for purchases as this method of payment cannot be easily verified.

Keeping proper records is essential to ensure that you receive all of the assistance you are eligible for. If you dispose of items or repair items without taking pictures and keeping records/receipts, you may not receive assistance for these items. Please contact Manitoba EMO if you have any questions about this process.

If your application is accepted into the DFA program, the program only assists with basic and essential needs and does not cover items like sports equipment, higher-end furnishings or flooring, stereos, gaming devices, artwork, tools (except when used for work), decks, fences, or decorative landscaping.

The intent of the DFA program is to ensure you have a warm, safe space after a disaster and does not provide the same type of coverage as insurance does. Secondary properties, such as cottages, are never eligible for DFA.

The purpose of DFA is to assist with repairing or restoring assets to a functional level after a disaster. It assists with basic and essential needs.

Manitoba EMO staff will work with you to fully understand the extent of your damages and advise you on what damages are eligible for DFA.

When a mandatory evacuation is ordered by an authorized government official, evacuation costs – such as temporary housing, food and other essential items up to a pre-determined maximum − are eligible for DFA if you were required to be evacuated for more than 30 days. Costs associated with evacuations of fewer than 30 days are covered by Emergency Social Services.

People who lose access to secondary homes such as a cottage during a mandatory evacuation order are not eligible for assistance if they still have access to their primary residence.

Costs associated with voluntary evacuations are NOT eligible.

In general, shoreline erosion is not eligible for DFA.

Livestock losses are DFA eligible if insurance could not be purchased. A veterinary certificate is required to verify that the losses were a direct result of the event. The assistance amount will be determined using the same valuation method as the Wildlife Damage Compensation program administered by the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC).

If a private property was damaged by municipal equipment during clean-up and recovery work, you must contact your municipality to either make the repairs or repay you for the damages. These expenses are not covered by the DFA program.

For private residents,the removal of downed trees is eligible for DFA as part of the assistance amount paid for debris removal on your property. There is a maximum amount of assistance for debris clean-up and it is based on the size of your property.

Tree removal will only be assisted with if the trees pose a safety concern on your land and will not be assisted with if the trees are in a wooded area or a remote location on your property and are determined not to be a safety concern. The removal of standing but damaged trees that pose a safety concern may also be eligible for DFA. Stump removal is not eligible for DFA as stumps are not considered debris.

Generally, landscaping costs other than debris clean up are not eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance.

Landscaping may be eligible if landscape standards are required by local authorities or development by-laws.

Farm buildings are typically ineligible for DFA whether insurance was purchased or not because insurance is often readily and reasonably available.

Farm buildings are considered on a case-by-case basis under the DFA program.

Many insurance providers in Manitoba are now offering overland flood insurance products to Manitobans.

Manitobans should inquire with an insurance broker on which insurance companies offer overland flood insurance for their specific property. Insurance will provide greater coverage and more assistance than a DFA program.

The DFA program does not provide assistance where insurance was available.

Since fire is an insurable hazard, most wildfires do not cause sufficient uninsured damages and financial burden to establish a DFA program. Manitoba will only consider establishing a DFA program when a wildfire impacts communities and results in an evacuation, property damage, or disruption of the delivery of essential goods and services. The DFA program only provides assistance for uninsurable wildfire-related costs, such as pre-emptive actions like establishing firebreaks and deploying sprinklers; evacuation-related expense and restoration of damaged infrastructure.

Insurable damages are not eligible for DFA. If a home, farm, business or not-for-profit organization is impacted by fire and did not purchase insurance for the peril, they will not be eligible for DFA. Secondary properties such as cottages are never eligible for DFA.

DFA is not a substitute for private insurance and does not compensate applicants for lost revenue, inconvenience, non-essential items, injuries, or lost wages.

DFA is a program of last resort and is meant to re-establish a basic standard of living and operations.

Yes, if one or more quarter sections that you rent have been damaged by an event you may be eligible for assistance for their repair.

To include these properties on your DFA claim you need to submit:

• property tax assessments for each damaged quarter section; and
• a signed and witnessed Farmland Owners Authorization Form (to be completed by the property owner) which gives the renter permission to repair the affected property and send the invoices and repair costs to the DFA program.

No, only damages to your primary residence are eligible for DFA. A cottage or cabin is considered a secondary residence.

The purpose of DFA is to assist with repairing or restoring assets to a functional level after a disaster. It assists with basic and essential needs and does not cover items like sports equipment, stereos, gaming devices, artwork, tools (except when used for work), decks, fences, or decorative landscaping.

If your property is eligible for DFA, the amount of assistance is based on the amount of damaged caused by the event. Damages are limited to no more than the maximum assessed value for land and structures indicated on your most recent property tax assessment. Claims for primary residences, farms, small businesses and non-profits are capped at $3M minus a deductible of 20% or $2,500, whichever is greater.

To avoid undermining the insurance market and to encourage people and communities to purchase sufficient coverage for their level of risk, insurable losses are ineligible under the DFA program. Individuals and organizations who choose not to purchase adequate insurance are not eligible for DFA.

In Manitoba, insurance is available for individuals and organizations for:

• Fire-related impacts and related evacuation costs
• Overland flooding (available for many lower-risk properties)
• Sewer back-up
• Hail
• Wind
• Vehicles and equipment
• Business interruption
• Crop losses

If adequate insurance was not available at a price that was generally affordable, then you may be eligible for some assistance through a DFA program. Overland or river flooding, where a property-owner could not purchase adequate insurance, is generally the only natural hazard that qualifies for DFA.

It is very important to understand your insurance policy so you are adequately protected. DFA does not “top-up” insurance if the risk is under-insured. For more information on insurance, you can visit the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s insurance website.

Yes. Manitobans should be aware of flood risk for the area they are living in and inquire with an insurance broker on which insurance companies offer overland flood insurance for their specific property.

Many Canadian insurers now offer residential overland flood insurance, which, along with seepage and back-up or escape of water/sewage coverage, helps reduce the financial risk of flooding events. These products may be added to home insurance policies for an additional premium.

Insurance will provide greater coverage and more assistance than a DFA program.

The DFA program does not provide assistance where adequate insurance is available.

We recommend reaching out to your insurance broker for information about your insurance policies and additional coverage that may be recommended for your property. In addition, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has a consumer information centre that can assist residents who have general insurance questions, including during severe weather events. IBC is available virtually at 1-844-2ask-IBC (1-844-227-5422) or by email.

The new DFA program allows homeowners to build back better, unlike the previous program which would only cover the cost of repairs to pre-disaster conditions. Repairs to rental homes and apartments would be processed under a landlord’s DFA business claim.

All damaged physical assets (i.e. foundations, walls, fixed electrical goods) can receive the equivalent of 15% of the cost of standard replacement value − which is the cost to repair the asset to pre-disaster conditions − to undertake disaster-resilient enhancements.

These enhancements must align with published disaster resilience guidelines. Manitoba EMO is developing a Manitoba-based Disaster Resilience Enhancement Guide that outlines eligible activities. Upgrades required to meet building codes and standards will continue to be considered standard recovery costs.

Manitobans are expected to share in the cost of their recovery. The previous program applied a 20% deductible to all private sector claims. The new program applies a minimum deductible of $2,500 or 20%, whichever is greater.

The new minimum deductible ensures assistance is focused on those who cannot recover without government assistance. DFA is a program of last resort and is not a substitute for insurance.

Under Canada’s new Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements, eligibility has expanded to allow governments and non-profit organizations to provide targeted and temporary support to individuals, households or populations who are more likely to experience disproportionately negative recovery outcomes.

Manitoba will be implementing these supports incrementally as we develop agreements, policies, and tools for new programming.

Canada has changed the way it assesses risk - it is now using a 1-in-200 year flood protection level (1:200 FPL) instead of the previous standard of 1:100 FPL. That means more areas in Manitoba may be designated as high risk.

New construction in high-risk areas must be appropriately mitigated to 1:200 to qualify for future disaster financial assistance. Existing assets in high-risk areas will initially remain eligible for DFA. If they experience major damage, they must be appropriately mitigated to 1:200 to retain future eligibility for DFA.

Major damage means a significant impact to the safety, structural integrity or critical function of an asset where the asset is unable to function as intended and requires significant repairs or total reconstruction.

Appropriate mitigation means an asset is not expected to experience major damage in an event at or below the 1-in-200 year flood protection level (1:200 FPL). These assets will likely experience minor damage, and they would still be eligible for support if they suffer major damage in a flood which exceeds the 1:200 FPL.

Assets in high-risk areas and that require additional mitigation work will be identified in the inspection process. Claimants can use their Build-Back-Better amounts toward mitigation. Mitigation can be site-specific or community-level protection.

The DFA Program Changes page has Fact Sheets, Frequently Asked Questions and Side-by-Side Comparisons of the old and new programs to help Manitobans understand the program changes.