WINNIPEG – The Province has announced that financial assistance will be available for municipalities, homeowners, farms and small businesses that were impacted by the severe weather in October 2019.

When a natural disaster occurs, the province may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance. The Manitoba Emergency Measures Act allows the provincial government to provide financial assistance if the event meets the criteria outlined in the act.

Disaster financial assistance is generally available as a last resort for evacuations, municipal response costs, repairs to damaged infrastructure and non-insurable damage to principal residences and buildings essential to the operation of eligible farms and small businesses. Home and business owners affected by the fall severe weather are encouraged to seek assistance first through private insurance claims, and to carefully check insurance coverage to ensure they are protected against potential risks in their area.

The federal government may provide financial assistance to provincial and territorial governments through Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements following large-scale natural disasters. The premier noted the province is confident the impacts of the fall 2019 storm will be eligible for federal funding.

The storm also created the need to use the Red River Floodway for the first time ever in the fall. The province previously announced a compensation program related specifically to the floodway.