The rainfall and flooding that ravaged large swaths of southwestern Manitoba the week of June 28 has yet to be recognized as a disaster by the province, and that’s worrying some municipalities.
Until the province opens a disaster financial assistance (DFA) program, government funds are not available to assist in repairs in the many towns and villages along both the Little Saskatchewan River and Whitemud watersheds.
"I believe there were 11 or 12 (municipalities) that declared a (local) state of emergency," said Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier, who toured the impacted area extensively.
That’s equal to the size of Prince Edward Island, Mazier added, and it’s all within his riding.
He said municipalities are gathering the details of the damage to present to the province’s Emergency Measures Organization, even as they work to fix roads. The province will then assess that information and decide whether to apply for assistance from the federal government, via the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), a program that provides disaster relief through provincial and territorial governments.
The last disaster for which a DFA program was established in Manitoba was the Oct. 12-14, 2019, severe weather event, according to the province. The program was made available for municipal and private sector damages. The province announced it Jan. 23, more than three months after the event.
"Disaster" means a calamity, however caused, which has resulted in or may result in (a) the loss of life, or (b) serious harm or damage to the safety, health or welfare of people, or (c) wide-spread damage to property or the environment," according to the Emergency Measures Act.
In an email, the province said that local states of emergency declared by the local authority have no link to disaster financial assistance. It also stated people can apply for assistance any time, even when programs have not been announced. People should also try to provide photographic evidence or images of damage and save all receipts if they spend money on mitigation or repairs.
Municipalities reached by The Brandon Sun on Wednesday were in various stages in the process. Some had already submitted details of the damage in their area, while others were still working to assess damages. In all cases, residents who sustained damage were also being encouraged to fill out the form for disaster financial assistance.
"Every disaster or emergency has unique aspects and impacts and must be considered individually under the broad guidelines. Applying to a program doesn’t mean assistance goes ahead. DFA is determined by government after an assessment of impacts," the province stated.
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) is also involved by offering support to municipalities.
"The AMM is aware of the June and July heavy rains and corresponding infrastructure damage experienced in many parts of Manitoba, including Westman," president Ralph Groening said by email.
"In response, the AMM proactively reached out to affected municipalities to offer support and shared information regarding disaster financial assistance (DFA). We encouraged municipalities to complete community impact assessments to help estimate losses and damages as this is a critical component in determining whether a DFA program will be established."
Groening added: "As municipal officials are on the front lines protecting local communities when responding to natural disasters and extreme weather events, we continue to call on the Province of Manitoba to establish firm timelines when announcing DFA programs as well as expedite the approval of municipal DFA applications."
The province stated by email it is working with impacted municipalities to determine the full scope of impacts.
"Once they are understood the province will determine how best to support Manitobans in their recovery from this event. Local states of emergency declared by the local authority have no link to disaster financial assistance," the province stated.
Riverdale
Riverdale Municipality Mayor Todd Gill said they have not submitted their documentation to the province, yet. He said they have completed their evaluation.
"It’s a work in progress," Gill said.
He pointed out Riverdale wasn’t just dealing with the aftermath of the rainfall.
"We also had the (Rivers) dam situation and the evacuation," he said.
Nevertheless, damaged sites are under repair.
Minto-Odanah
Doug Dowsett is one frustrated reeve. The wild storms battered Minto-Odanah in late June. The area had hundreds of places with washed-out roads, resulting in 27 miles of closed roads. Dowsett toured numerous provincial and federal officials around the area, including Mazier.
"I talk to Greg Nesbitt (MLA for Riding Mountain) pretty near every day," Dowsett said.
"If not him, his secretary. I’m lobbying as hard as I can, but I’m not seeming to be getting anyplace, which really bothers me right now,"
Dowsett said the municipality, which has a maintenance agreement with the province for provincial roads, has been spending municipal money to fix those roads.
"Which I don’t think is right," he said.
"Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that they’re not concerned. It’s just that they haven’t decided to do anything, yet."
But, Dowsett worried that Minto-Odanah might not getting financial help.
"But I can’t see them leaving us out in the cold. The towns of Minnedosa and Neepawa have extensive damage, too," he said.
"Don’t forget our tax base isn’t huge to draw from. We’re 1,187 people — that’s all we have in Minto-Odanah. It’s going to be problematic for us, the financial hit, if we don’t get help. It’ll be extreme."
Aaren Robertson, chief administrative officer for Minto-Odanah, said a lot of the smaller stuff is fixed up now.
"Everybody is accessible, now," he said.
"But we have a lot of damage yet to fix. We’ve probably spent $100,000 on culverts. That’s just the culverts. And more to come."
Clanwilliam-Erickson
Similarly, the RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson has a gravel road initiative agreement with the province for a portion of Provincial Road 262 that is within the municipality. Clanwilliam-Erickson is responsible for the regular maintenance of that road and the province pays out a set amount.
"I would assume that in an extreme situation, where a road is completely gone. … They kind of said it’s our baby to fix, but I’m hoping there will be some sort of provincial funding. But we’ve had to fix the road on the municipal dollar," said chief administrative officer Quinn Greavett.
"Fingers crossed we’re able to get reimbursed."
Greavett said they submitted their application immediately on July 2.
"We’re just waiting to hear from them. We knew we were going to need assistance," she said.
"In the rural area, we had two very major road washouts. And in town — we’re hoping it (DFA) will be approved because people will have their personal claims, as well. We’ve been encouraging people to do that."
For the rural area, Greavett has logged approximately 25 sites ranging from major washout to more minor damage. She said the worst washout wiped out approximately 40 feet of one road.
"Although it’s over, it’s just beginning, as far as the work that needs to be done and how it gets organized and who has to pay for it," Greavett said.
She estimates, at this point, that recuperating from the weather event will cost the municipality approximately $100,000.
"But that’s really a guess. One road repair we did is to the tune of $14,000 to $15,000."
Oakview
Meanwhile, the Rural Municipality of Oakview, where Rapid City is located, has an additional worry. With all the focus on the Rivers dam, the Rapid City dam, which blew out during the storms, is seemingly forgotten. Dams are owned by the province.
That’s a problem for some residents. Ironically, despite the flooding, the wells for approximately two dozen homes are going dry. That’s because of the reservoir breach.
"Those homes rely on that water. Their wells are depleting quickly," said chief administrative officer Marci Quane.
She said the municipality has completed, to the best of its ability, its community impact assessment.
"We have no idea, with the number of bridges and roads, what the cost is going to be."
The municipality has started on repairs, but is waiting on culverts.
"We’ve got so much on order," Quane said.
She estimates total costs will come to $1.5 million to repair 25 roads and five bridges.
