Residents of Canmore, Exshaw, and Bighorn can start applying for financial assistance to help them deal with the costs of damages from flooding starting on Friday.

A registration centre will be opening in Canmore so people in the region can access disaster financial assistance.

“We are opening up the first registration centre for property owners with flood damage in Canmore because safe re-entry and rebuilding has begun,” said Associate Minister of Regional Recovery and Reconstruction (south west region) Kyle Fawcett. “Residents of Canmore, Bighorn and Exshaw will be able to apply for disaster financial assistance so they can start rebuilding their lives.”

The government has removed the need for municipalities to apply for disaster assistance on behalf of residents and for visual inspections of property damage to occur before first payments are made in order to get funding to residents as soon as possible.

Officials say those requirements will be addressed later.

The registration Centre is at the Canmore Recreation Centre and is open on June 28 and 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Those people who can’t live in their homes because of the damage are asked to come to the registration centre on June 28, between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Residents who can live in their homes are asked to come to the registration centre after that.

How to apply:

  • Visit www.alberta.ca or follow local news to find out when a registration centre is going to be open in their region.

Go to a registration centre and provide the following:

  • Government-issued photo I.D.
  • A list of damaged property with estimated measurements of square footage of their home.
  • An alternate mailing address if they are not living in their primary residence.
  • And, only if available, a letter from their insurance company confirming losses are uninsurable, a land title, and photos and lists of damaged property.
  • Work with registration centre staff to complete an application for funding.

Officials say that applicants will receive an initial payment in the mail within 7 to 14 days of applying.

The initial payments will be based on the size of home, number of rooms, whether the basement was finished, and the amount of detail applicants are able to provide during their application.

Tenants will also receive an initial payment as long as they can provide official government I.D. and proof of residence in an area hit by flooding.

Officials say that more registration centre locations and times will be announced in the coming days.

For more information on flood financial assistance, visit the Alberta Government website.