Residents tired of waiting for flood help

It’s been almost a month since flooding swept the district but some residents north of Stratton and Pinewood are no closer to getting answers about compensation than they were the week it occurred.
“Each of us has a different set of questions,” said Barbara Miller. ”When will we know? We didn’t choose to get flooded. It’s supposed to get better but it keeps getting worse.”
Bruce Maycock, with the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP), said adjusters could begin visiting homes this week. The ODRAP committee is in the process of looking at proposals from adjusters now.
Jason Lilley submitted a partial claim Monday. He said when he brought it in, the ODRAP workers’ “mouths dropped open.” It’s basically the cost of the home.
“It’s such an extensive claim. I’ve only put in for the house right now and the rest will follow,” he said. “They had hoped they’d have adjusters hired by this next coming week but they don’t know any more than we do.
“I went in [Monday] and took the claim in for the home itself. I’ll be honest, my other stuff is too big. It’s going to take a while to get it in.”
Affected residents also are concerned about depreciation.
Miller, in a letter to the editor in this week’s Fort Frances Times, wrote: “It seems that most people believe that the victims of this flood will receive 90 percent of their losses. This is only partly true. We may receive the 90 percent in some cases, but it is based on depreciated value.”
Maycock said there may be circumstances where the adjuster and committee will decide to award relief funding on a case-by-case basis.
“There may be some grey areas where the committee has discretion to make judgment calls on perhaps essential items.
“The guidelines say debris deposited by the flood [is covered], then all of a sudden you get into basements flooded and full of mud. Does that include taking out insulation and drywall?
“That’s the discretionary things,” Maycock remarked.
Miller also wondered about compensation for homes that have been condemned.
“There are no guidelines with regards to how to deal with people whose homes have been condemned because of structural damage or mold,” she wrote.
Maycock agreed the issue of condemned homes is something they’re still trying to get clarification on.
“Building season is now,” said Miller.
Lilley said contractors are too busy to deal with him right now and he’s thought about ordering a pre-fabricated house. “Nobody builds a house at the drop of hat,” he noted. “Time is ticking.”
Maycock, who also worked on ice storm claims, said he understands people’s frustration but stressed ODRAP workers are doing everything in their power to help process the claims as quickly as possible.
“We’re encouraged by the number of people who are applying and hope to help them best we can,” he said, adding they expect to receive a maximum of 500 claims although the number could be considerably lower.
The ODRAP office is located at 400B Scott St. here in Fort Frances. The telephone number is 274-4700.