Calgary receives disaster recovery fund

The province of Alberta has approved a CD$1 million disaster recovery program that will help residents of Calgary and De Winton recover from severe storms and heavy rainfall that occurred on June 21, July 6, July 9 and August 3, 2006. The storms occurred over very short periods of time, with intense rain and hail that resulted in overland flooding in several Calgary neighbourhoods, according to a government of Alberta press release. “Severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere,” Rob Renner, Minister of Municipal Affairs, says. “Because of this, the province’s disaster recovery programs are designed to help affected people get their lives back to normal by helping cover uninsurable costs.”Disaster recovery programs cover damage for which insurance is not readily and reasonably available. For example, the release explains that insurance policies traditionally cover damage from causes such as sewer backup; however, insurance coverage is not available for flooding resulting from water entering through basement windows. Funding for the program is available through the province’s Sustainability Fund, which the government says can be used for disaster assistance.The release lists several steps residents can take to ensure their application is processed as quickly as possible:* Contact your insurance company to review your existing coverage.* Have your insurance company provide you with a letter indicating what is not covered by your insurance.* Prepare a detailed list of all property with non-insurable damage. If possible, take photos of the damage (do not include photos with the application).