Ottawa Asks Province for Help After Canada Day Floods

The city says 3,200 basements were flooded after the storm.

Ottawa city councillors and MPPs have signed a letter asking the province for disaster relief funding.

On Canada Day, heavy rain in Ottawa caused flooding and cancelled activities.

Over 3,200 basements were flooded, including Jennifer Johnston's.

The Canada Day storm affected the lives of people in a flooded apartment building.

Johnston said the water flowed heavily and couldn't be stopped.

She compared it to the tide coming in at the Bay of Fundy.

Johnston's furnace, water heater, and air conditioner need to be replaced, but her insurance claim was denied.

Coun. Sean Devine said sudden expenses like these are hard to deal with. He represents a ward that was badly hit by the storm.

Devine signed a letter with other councillors and MPPs asking the province for help.

The Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program helps people who are uninsured or underinsured after natural disasters.

Devine said people in his ward have had different experiences with their insurance companies.

Johnston didn't have flood insurance because her house had flooded before and an insurance company dropped her.

The city is allowing more garbage to be picked up after the flood.

Johnston said other insurance companies wanted a very high premium for flood insurance.

She thinks the insurance industry is not helpful and plans to appeal the denial of her claim.

Many of Johnston's neighbours are struggling to pay for the damage, even with insurance.

Most people in the neighbourhood are in a difficult situation.

Devine said the city is working to qualify for the DRAO program, but it will take time.

The city needs to show that the storm was a sudden and widespread natural disaster.

Devine thinks the storm qualifies for the DRAO program based on what he knows.

The DRAO program can provide up to $250,000 per application.

CBC asked the Ontario ministry of municipal affairs and housing for a comment.

MPP Tyler Watt signed the letter to the province and released it.

Watt praised front-line workers for their efforts after the storm.

He thinks the provincial government should help the people affected by the storm.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada has launched a helpline for people in Ottawa.

The IBC's vice-president advised people to take photos, keep notes, and save receipts for flood-damaged items.

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