Flooding in downtown Fredericton. (Submitted/Government of New Brunswick)
New Brunswick’s public safety minister is urging residents affected by flooding to report their damages to the province.
The Damage Report Line program allows residents, tenants, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations to receive information and register their damage.
Carl Urquhart said residents should register their damage as soon as possible.
“Once they are registered, our people can start doing the assessment,” said Urquhart.
Residents can call 1-888-298-855 between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays or report damages online.
Residents affected by flooding are asked to report damage by calling 1-888-298-8555 or by registering online. https://t.co/59XE9pLDhV pic.twitter.com/aJZ56ALEyP
— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) April 30, 2019
The minister was asked Monday if the province will offer a buyout program for properties too close to the water.
Urquhart said a lot of discussions are happening but no decisions have been made yet.
“The premier has said that we’ve gotta look at it to make changes for the future,” he said, adding we have to expect flooding like this to become common.
New Brunswick EMO made nearly 80 buyout offers after the record-breaking flooding in 2018, with most of the claims in the Maugerville to Jemseg/Grand Lake area. Thirty claimants accepted a buyout, 22 sold structures to the province and kept the land, and 26 accepted money for repairs.
Buyouts are offered in cases where structural damages exceed 80 per cent of the appraised value of the property.
According to the province, a claimant who refuses a buyout can receive money for repairs or have the province buy just the structure, but they will not be eligible for future disaster financial assistance programs.
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