Despite a major flooding event a couple of months ago that affected thousands, Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing reported that the province’s Disaster Recovery Assistance program has so far only received 91 applications.

Record rainfall fell over the region resulted in over 6,000 flooded basements in cities such as Windsor, Tecumseh, and Lasalle. This means less than 2% of homeowners that reported flooding applied for the program.

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The mayors of the three cities called for the province to activate the disaster relief program a week following the flood.

CBC reported that, as of November 07, $4,630 has been paid on the applications received in relation to the most recent flooding.

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Although homeowners are being invited to apply for disaster relief, not all applicants will be receiving money.

“Damage caused by sewer backup is not generally eligible under the program,” an information package by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing read. “However, there is a special provision to provide assistance to low-income households that experience flood damage caused by sewer backup.”

The Disaster Recovery Assistance program was also activated in 2016 after 3,500 basements across the province were flooded; some 583 homeowners applied for relief last year.

“To date $749,683.73 in assistance, including interim payments, has been issued to eligible recipients,” a ministry spokesperson told CBC.

More than a year later, there are still 135 applications related to the previous flooding that remain open and under review.


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Flood-affected Windsor-Essex homeowners now eligible for disaster relief