Province announces financial support for Nova Scotians affected by Fiona

$100 in compensation for spoiled food and $250 for any household that needs to pay for tree or debris removal

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Groff

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The province has announced millions of dollars in funding for those affected by the “unimaginable devastation” of Fiona.

At a media briefing Monday afternoon, Premier Tim Houston said the Disaster Financial Assistance Program will offer up to $200,000 in uninsurable losses per household, small business and not-for-profit organization.

This can include flood damage and damage to uninsurable items like household appliances, such as washers, dryers and furnaces.

Applications can be made through the province’s website or, for those without internet access, at an MLA office.

“The amount an individual receives depends on the damage and it depends on their insurance coverage,” Houston explained. “Please check with your insurance carrier first.”

If you lost power for at least 48 hours, your household is eligible to get $100 in compensation for spoiled food. Houston said insurance also can cover this, but significant deductibles often mean it’s not worth making a claim.

The province is also offering $250 for any household that needs to pay for tree or debris removal.

Applications are expected to be available online or through an MLA office by the end of the week.

Those who get the $750 seniors care grant can get additional $250 to help with storm reparations.

The Canadian Red Cross is getting $500,000 to help those who have been displaced. Houston said families and individuals can apply to the organization for $1,000 in emergency funding, either online or by calling 1-800-863-6582.

And all current income assistance recipients, including Disability Support Program participants, can get $150 in income support

Funding is also coming to support community organizations that help people:

• a $2-million fund will assist community centres with the purchase and installation of generators
• $500,000 to Feed Nova Scotia and $150,000 in total for non-member food banks in Cape Breton and eastern Nova Scotia
• $100,000 to Salvation Army and Red Cross organizations in Cape Breton
• $100,000 in total to shelters in Cape Breton and eastern Nova Scotia to help with extra demand
• $100,000 to establish a hotel fund, administered by Cape Breton Community Housing, to provide temporary accommodations for people in shelters who cannot go back into their homes
• $150,000 to distribute support to families in need through the SchoolsPlus program; the support will come in the form of grocery store cards and access to food, where possible.

Houston said there may be changes to these supports in the coming days as the situation develops.

The premier has been travelling to some of the hardest hit part of the province in the aftermath of Fiona, and he’s “never seen anything like it.”

“No matter where I was, on the drive into communities we were stopped by downed trees. This was the scene everywhere,” Houston said. “We saw homes and visited with their owners who had trees collapsed on their roofs.”

“One business we saw literally blew away, and blew into the residence behind it, taking the back off the home.”

With the sheer magnitude of Nova Scotians impacted by the storm, he said it’s hard to estimate how much these programs will cost, but his best estimate at this time is over $40 million.

“I know this won’t make everyone whole, and I know it won’t be as fast as some people need, but I’ve seen the impact and I know the importance of getting this in your hands as quickly as possible,” Houston added. “Our government will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”