Central Algoma flood relief fundraising begins

(SooToday.com reader Nicholas Gordon sent us the above photos of Iron River Rd. in the Echo Bay area on September 10, 1013. More images of that area flooding can be seen here)

NEWS RELEASE

Fundraising will begin immediately for victims of the September 10, 2013 flood event, Elzine Shuttleworth newly appointed chair for the Central Algoma Joint Disaster Relief Committee announced today.

The Township of Macdonald, Meredith & Aberdeen Additional, Township of Laird, Township of Plummer Additional and the Municipality of Huron Shores are the participating municipalities of the Central Algoma Joint Disaster Relief Committee.

Each municipality appointed two members to make up the eight member committee after Linda Jeffrey Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced on December 5, 2013 that their Ministry would be providing five communities in east Algoma District up to 3.25 million in disaster assistance and declared the area a disaster area for the purposes of the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program under the public and private components.

This committee will be focused on the private component of ODRAP and will be spearheading the fund-raising effort and be responsible for appraising losses and settling claims.

Shuttleworth is urging all residents in these communities to chip in and help their less fortunate neighbours by donating money or by volunteering to help with fundraising efforts.

All donations can be made at the Township of Macdonald, Meredith & Aberdeen Additional municipal office located at 208 Church St. in Echo Bay which is the host community for the Central Algoma Joint Disaster Relief Committee.

We will be contacting all businesses in the area for donations as well as staging special fundraising events over the next few weeks.

Donors will receive official receipts for income tax purposes from the municipality.

The Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program applies once a disaster area has been declared.

The program is intended to alleviate hardship suffered by private homeowners, tenants, farmers, small business enterprises and non profit organizations. Privately-owned, non-essential property such as secondary residences and insured losses are not eligible.

The Province will top up local fundraising to the amount that is needed to pay eligible claims over and above the locally raised funds, up to two dollars for each dollar raised by the Central Algoma Joint Disaster Relief Committee. The amount of the provincial funding contribution is determined after all claims have been reviewed by the Central Algoma Joint Disaster Relief Committee and community fundraising is completed. Locally raised funds are expended first, before provincial funds are contributed.

Shuttleworth said the Central Algoma Joint Disaster Relief Committee will soon place advertisements in local newspapers, on municipal websites, and in municipal newsletters outlining the terms on which assistance can be provided and how a claim can be made.

Anyone seeking more information about contributing to the fund or wishing to help with the campaign can call 705-248-2613. Information about submitting applications for assistance is available at 705-248-2613 and ask for Brenda Barbarie or Lynne Duguay.

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