Disaster releif - what is it?

What happens if my basement is flooded during a large storm and the insurance company says that it is not insured under my home insurance?    

When an event, such as a storm, causes extensive damage within a municipality the municipality would apply to the Province for assistance.  This is called the Disaster Relief Program or Disaster Recovery program.

What happens is,  the Municipality or City would declare a "state of emergency" or "Disaster" and coordinate a program where the insurance companies, local services, volunteer groups, and other available resources would work together to help those affected by the calamity.  The municipality would apply to the province for releif.   If granted by the province residents and business owners would be intitled to receive benefits under this act. 

Once the program is declared by the Municipality or City then the residents can make application to the Disaster Relief Program for assistance.

The intent is not to provide assistance for things that an insurance policy would cover.   When you make an application for assistance you must provide a letter from the insurance company outlining what damage the insurance company is paying and what they are not covering and why it is not being covered by the policy.  Once your application is excepted as being eligible you will have an assessment completed by the provincial inspector.  they will assess and determine the expenses and losses they will cover.
You must make an application before you are eligible to receive benefits.   Here the link to the Saskatchewan and Alberta Government websites.
Alberta   Saskatchewan

Important, make sure you document with photos and keep a diary of what occurred along with costs that you incur.  It is highly likely that you will need to take action to mitigate damage from occurring to your property before an adjuster for the insurance company or the province would be available.  Your responsibility is to protect your property from further damage.  In emergency situations it is important to get in touch with the City or Municipality as they will have resources available under their disaster plan.

In August 2010 the Saskatchewan government announced improvements to PDAP to assist individuals and businesses affected by severe weather that had struck several locations around the province in previous weeks. The changes to the program are retroactive to April 1, 2010.

• They include:reducing the deductible for private claimants from 20 per cent to five per cent;
• increasing the maximum amount of financial assistance available to principal resident claimants from $160,000 to $240,000;
• increasing the maximum amount of assistance to eligible small businesses, non-profit organizations, boards and primary agricultural enterprises from $160,000 to $500,000;
• eliminating the Saskatchewan residency requirement for small business and agricultural enterprise owners;
• providing a maximum $30,000 relocation payment that is separate from a property claim;
• providing regional park authorities with the same eligibility as municipalities; and
• setting the deductible for municipalities and regional parks at 0.15 per cent of their current taxable assessment.

General Program Information

·         Payment is based on restoration of property to pre-disaster functional condition within the limitations of the Disaster Recovery Regulation and the Disaster Assistance Guidelines.

·         A Home Owner or Tenant can only apply to the applicant’s principal residence.

·         Maximum assistance is $300,000 per Application.

·         The program will provide assistance for uninsurable losses only.  If there is a combination of insurable and uninsurable items, compensation is based on a percentage of eligible loss and damage.

Exclusions

The purpose of a Disaster Recovery Program is to assist with the continuation of people’s lives in the wake of a disaster.  These programs serve as a safety net, providing financial assistance for requirements essential for day-to-day living, but are not intended to provide full compensation for all losses and damages.. 

Disaster Recovery Programs do not provide assistance for property that can be insured, such as:

·      automobiles, farm machinery, recreation equipment such as snowmobiles, or for insurance deductibles;

·      recreational property or secondary residences; or

·      property considered as luxury or non-essential, such as:

-     electronic entertainment equipment, cameras;

-     furs, jewellery, paintings, sculptures and works of art or other luxury items; or

-     stored building materials.

Typical General Limitations

There are limitations that restrict the amount of assistance that is available.  The following items are examples of what may be eligible, including the maximum amounts that can be provided.  An evaluator will determine eligibility and actual assistance.

·      air conditioner, purifiers etc. / at appraised value / limited to applications supported by a medical certificate indicating they are required / one per application

·      antiques / equivalent essential items at regular value

·      barbecues / $300 maximum / one per application

·      bathroom towels / $250 maximum per application

·      bed linen (sheets, pillows/cases, blankets or bed in a bag) / $300 maximum per bed

·      bedroom suite / $1,200 maximum per bedroom

·      beds and mattresses / Separate - as evaluated

·      briefcases / $50 maximum

·      bicycles / $150 maximum per bicycle / maximum of $500 per application

·      calculators / $25 maximum per calculator /one per person

·      chainsaw / $250 maximum / limited to residences on rural properties (including acreages)

·      clean-up by applicant / household/facility and yard clean up only / 120% of the provincial minimum hourly wage / 100 hours maximum per application

·      clean-up by contractor for residence (water removal, furniture removal and/or fan and dehumidifier rental in affected areas; and, does not include demolition, carpet removal or sanitizing) / $1000 maximum per application with receipts

·      clocks / $50 maximum each / maximum two per application

·      clothing / $2,000 per person maximum (some extraordinary cases may warrant supplementary consideration)

·      coffee and end tables / $300 maximum per application

·      computer (includes CPU, monitor, printer, keyboard/mouse) $1,000 maximum/one per application

·      cosmetics / $100 maximum

·      curtains, drapes / $1,000 maximum per application

·      desk & chair / one per household / $150 maximum per desk / $150 maximum per task chair

·      dining room suite / $2,000 maximum / one per application

·      dishes and glasses / $500 maximum per application

·      dishwasher / $600 maximum / one per application

·      driveways / as evaluated

·      dryer / $500 maximum / one per application

·      drywall/panel board (including insulation and vapour barrier on perimeter walls) - at program rates (established annually, including labour)

·      flatware / $300 maximum per application

·      floor coverings (carpet, lino, etc.) – at program rates including labour and based on economy grade floor coverings

·      freezer food / $1,000 maximum per application

·      freezer / $1,000 maximum / one per application

·      fridge / $1,000 maximum / one per application

·      garden (home) fruit and vegetables / $400 maximum per application

·      garden tools and supplies / $100 maximum per application

·      garden shed (limit of one) / $1,000 maximum per application

·      health items (prescription glasses, dental appliances including dentures, prescription medicines, etc.) / where assistance is not available from other sources, including medical insurance / pay as evaluated to a maximum of $3,000 per person

·      heaters (baseboards, walls, etc) / as evaluated

·      household miscellaneous (e.g. bathroom scales, clothes hampers, garbage cans, humidifiers, mirrors, etc.) / $500 maximum per application

·      kitchen linen / $200 maximum per application

·      kitchen miscellaneous (e.g. broom, mop, ironing board, soap and laundry supplies) / $200 maximum per application

·      kitchen pots and pans / $200 maximum per application

·      kitchen set (table and chairs) / $500 maximum / one per application

·      kitchen small appliances & utensils (e.g. toaster, can opener, electric knife, etc.) / $200 maximum

·      lamps / $500 maximum per application

·      landscaping (residential) / $500 maximum for removal or repair of safety hazards

·      lawnmowers (push) / $300 maximum / one per application

·      lawnmower (ride on) / $1,800 maximum (where determined essential) / one per application

·      living room suite (excluding coffee and end tables) / $2,000 maximum / one per application

·      meals & accommodation (where not provided by municipality) 10 days maximum /per application

·      microwave / $250 maximum / one per application

·      personal miscellaneous (e.g. curling iron, hair dryer, keys, etc.) / $200 maximum per person sixteen years of age or older

·      radios / $50 maximum each / maximum two per application

·      razor (electric) / $125 maximum / one per person sixteen years of age or older

·      reference books / $1,000 maximum per person (only if used by professional person or person with current student status)

·      roto tiller / $750 maximum (where determined essential) / one per application

·      septic tank cleaning, flushing, repair or replacement / eligible if damage caused by event / repair or replacement costs - will be prorated based on a 20 year life cycle of tank

·      sandbagging / for household and small business / maximum of 100 hours labour (included with clean-up) per event at 120 per cent of the provincial minimum wage per hour

·      sewing machine / $250 maximum / one per application

·      snow blower / $1,000 maximum (where determined essential) / one per application

·      sport and fitness equipment / $300 maximum (sports and fitness equipment used for livelihood are eligible to the appraised value)

·      stove (electric or gas) / $850 maximum / one per application

·      suitcases / $200 maximum each set of three / one set per person sixteen years of age or older

·      telephones / $50 maximum each / two per application

·      television (for repair or replacement) / $300 maximum / one per application

·      tools (household) / $200 maximum per application (tools used for livelihood are eligible to the appraised value)

·      toys, games and books / $250 maximum / limited to households with children under the age of sixteen years

·      vacuum $400 maximum / one per application / if purchased in lieu of rental for clean-up, 50% of the purchase price to a $200 maximum

·      washing machine / $700 maximum / one per application

·      water softener or filtration system / as evaluated and supported by medical certificate

·      water well (potable) / eligible for flood related cleaning, repair or replacement costs - will be prorated based on a 30 year life cycle

·      wood / where used for primary source of heating