FirstOnSite Restoration Working with BMO to Arrange Loans for Flood Victims

FirstOnSite and BMO Team-up to Help Manitoba Residents Affected by Flooding

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, May 4, 2011 – Canada’s top disaster mitigation specialists are coming to the rescue of Manitoba residents in more ways than one this flood season. FirstOnSite Restoration has teamed up with the Bank of Montreal (BMO) to help speed up the process for homeowners in the province who are affected by flooding.

Currently, most insurance companies in the region do not offer coverage for overland flooding – the type of flooding that affects homeowners during the spring thaw. When homeowners are impacted by flood damage they have to finance the clean up and pay for any required rebuilding of their property. For some that means dipping into their savings, but for others, that may not be an option.

“In the wake of the devastating flooding in the province of Manitoba, FirstOnSite is working with BMO to help get the appropriate financial resources to homeowners in critical need so they can get on with the task of rebuilding their homes and getting their lives back to normal,” said Doug Irwin, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director for Western Canada.

BMO has teamed up with FirstOnSite to help homeowners by speeding up the overall process to restore property, including damage assessment and financing.  FirstOnSite will visit homes in the province to assess the damage and provide a cost estimate. BMO will then work with the homeowner to determine if they qualify for the type of loan needed to cover the costs so that restoration work can begin immediately. 

“The accumulation of melting snow and rising water levels can cause major flooding every year, resulting in damage to properties across the province,” said Rick Jaques, Vice President, Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario, BMO Bank of Montreal. “BMO is committed to working with each homeowner individually to assess their financial situation and determine the appropriate financial support needed to help our customers get the clean up underway and begin the rebuild as soon as possible.”

Currently, BMO is offering this service in Manitoba only. For more information, homeowners can call FirstOnSite Restoration at 1-888-315-9239 or contact your local BMO Bank of Montreal branch.

About FirstOnSite Restoration

FirstOnSite Restoration is the largest independent emergency restoration company in Canada serving the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With 1,100 employees and more than 40 branches coast-to-coast, it delivers 24/7 emergency services when a disaster strikes. FirstOnSite’s corporate structure provides scale, stability and unsurpassed capabilities in Canada. The core strength of the company is its team. It looks for the best and the brightest in the industry. It invests in its people and in the communities where they live and work. FirstOnSite is majority-owned by TorQuest Partners Inc. and is an approved vendor for many leading insurance companies. For more information visit: www.firstonsite.ca or call 1-877-778-6731.