The Provincial Government continues to support residents as we progress through this difficult situation following the impacts of Hurricane Fiona.

For residents who have been displaced and whose homes have been destroyed, are no longer safe to live in and/or cannot be reasonably repaired, a process has been established to apply for funding. The Provincial Government, with the help of municipal governments and other community organizations, will be reaching out to residents regarding the application process and officials will be on the ground in the coming days to assist residents with completing applications.

As we advance this phase, other properties that sustained varying degrees of damage will require further assessment. Residents are encouraged to fill out the Disaster Financial Assistance Agreement application and an official will be in contact to discuss next steps.

On Monday, October 3, the Canadian Red Cross started distributing funding on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to those who have been displaced or evacuated and have either returned home or are not yet able to return home. To date, over $1.5 million has been dispersed to people who need it, and more is going out every day.

As part of our government’s overall financial support related to Hurricane Fiona, $500,000 is being provided directly to communities through the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. The Department has been in contact with communities to outline all eligible costs. Just over $147,000 has been approved to date to assist with costs for such items as cleanup of debris, hiring of staff to assist with hurricane relief and overtime pay for town staff. Expenses are 100 per cent covered and there is no requirement for communities to cost-share.

A Housing Committee made up of representatives from Transportation and Infrastructure, Children, Seniors and Social Development and the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is working to match impacted residents to available temporary housing. $1.5 million has been allocated to assist impacted residents with temporary accommodations, and it is anticipated that impacted residents will begin moving into temporary housing over the next several weeks. We ask for continued patience as the process of matching the needs with available temporary accommodations continues in the interim.

The Provincial Government is asking individuals who have been impacted by Hurricane Fiona and who have not already registered with the Canadian Red Cross, to please do so by either:

• Calling the toll free number 1-800-863-6582, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. NDT; or
• Visiting in-person at St. Christopher’s Hotel, 146 Caribou Rd, Channel-Port Aux Basques, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. NDT from Tuesday to Sunday weekly. Please note the registration centre will not be open on Mondays.

For additional information on Hurricane Fiona relief efforts, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/jps/hurricanefionarelief/.

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Media contact
Emily-Jane Gillingham
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-2634, 730-4607
emilygillingham@gov.nl.ca