The Provincial Government has denied the Regional District of East Kootenay’s (RDEK) application for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) to cover windstorm damage.
The RDEK was seeking funding to help people recover from a windstorm that ripped through the Columbia Valley in late August, leaving widespread damage in its wake.
“We were hoping that given the magnitude of impacts from the windstorm this summer, our request for DFA would be approved,” said RDEK Protective Services Manager, Christina Carbrey.
“Unfortunately, the Ministry of Emergency Management & Climate Readiness has denied our application for both private and public intakes.”
The RDEK says the Ministry cited several reasons for the denial:
- The scope of Disaster Financial Assistance does not include windstorms.
- The DFA is intended for uninsured damages and most losses in this windstorm were insurable.
- Disaster Financial Assistance for local governments and Indigenous Nations is for events totalling over $1 million in damages.
The windstorm swept through the entire region but caused the most damage in the Columbia Valley.
While the RDEK was seeking DFA funding, the local government also coordinated with a volunteer organization to help with debris removal and brought in a Recovery Manager for over a month to support impacted residents.
“The Province provided funding for the Recovery Manager position and supported many other aspects of the response,” said Carbrey.
“So, while we are disappointed that DFA has not been approved, we are grateful to have received that other support.”
The RDEK says its DFA application included 275 submissions and a comprehensive summary of damages to public spaces and infrastructure across the Columbia Valley.
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