Disaster Assistance Programs:

Both the federal and provincial governments operate programs that are intended to assist individuals and communities recover from the effects of natural disasters.  In light of the recent flooding along the Black and Severn rivers, I have compiled this brief backgrounder that explains how the disaster assistance programs work, and provided a short description of programs themselves. Of course, if you have any further questions, please contact my office.


How Disaster Assistance Works:

Individuals:
Individuals are expected to have insurance to cover most of the damages caused by natural disasters such as flooding.  However, if the costs exceed what an individual should reasonably be able to pay, they can contact the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) to see if assistance is available.
 
Municipalities:
Similarly, municipalities are expected to cover the costs of damage to public infrastructure.  However, should the damages exceed the municipality’s fiscal capacity, they can also apply for assistance to the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).

* Note: For the ODRAP to kick in, the local municipality must declare the area in question is a disaster area. Once the province determines that the damages have reached a certain threshold, the federal government’s disaster assistance program is brought into the picture.

Government Disaster Financial Assistance Programs:

Federal government – Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement (Ontario):

The federal government provides financial assistance to provinces to cope with disasters on a per capita basis - $1 per each person in the province.  As Ontario’s population is roughly 12 million, the federal government’s DFAA program kicks in once the damage has exceeded $12 million, on an escalating scale of 50-90%

Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) per capita sharing formula
Eligible Provincial / Territorial Expenditures     Government of Canada Share
First $1 per capita     -
Next $2 per capita    50%
Next $2 per capita    75%
Remainder    90%

Since the DFAA came into force in 1970, Ontario has applied on two occasions:
    1998 – Ice storm
    2004- Peterborough floods

More information on the DFAA is available at: www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/em/dfaa/index-en.asp

Provincial government – Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program:

The Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) is an assistance program designed to help municipalities, individuals, farmers, small business, and non-profit organizations get back on their feet after a natural disaster.  It is intended to cover the costs of returning essential items to pre-disaster condition for people who have suffered damage in designated disaster areas.

In the event of a natural disaster, individuals are expected to bear the initial responsibility for their losses.  If the losses are so extensive that individuals cannot cope on their own, the municipality and the community at large are expected to provide support.

If municipalities have experienced extraordinary damage to public infrastructure due to a natural disaster, they should contact their local Municipal Services Office of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to determine if the damages sustained are eligible for assistance.

For more information on the ODRAP, please visit: www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page237.aspx