Storm Arthur relief claims still being processed by province

Post tropical storm Arthur roared through New Brunswick almost a year ago and many who suffered major damage are still feeling the effects as the province is still working through the hundreds of disaster relief claims.

Vita Plume and John Yauss were just two of 195,000 customers to lose power when post-tropical storm Arthur hit in July.

Trees landed on the roof of Plume's art studio and another sent glass scattering through the inside.

They ended up clearing their property of any tree that could land on their house. Their neighbours still have others to take down.

Yauss said the loss has hit them hard.

"Every time we would drive down the driveway it kind of sinks in your heart, from what was here before," he said.

Plume and Yauss said it was a huge mess to clean up.

"It was a summer and fall of constant work," Plume said. "Constant limb, tree cutting, limb clearing, stump pulling, burning things. It was exhausting."

They say this summer will be a time for replanting.

In the village of Gagetown, the storm blew a tree onto Al Corkum's house. cracking the roof and damaging an upstairs room.

Their insurance covered it and some work was done. Then summer ended and winter came. Now that spring has finally arrived, their contractor has not.

"They put a patch on the roof, and fixed a little bit of the soffits," Corkum said. "Outside of that, they haven't done anything. I have a big long list of things that the contractor is supposed to do and I'm hoping that once this nasty weather is over, they're going to be here and fix it up."

Corkum thinks the crews were so busy in town, they just didn't get out in time, but he's running out of patience.

While Corkum waits for a roofing crew, others wait for financial help.

The NB Emergency Measures Organization says it is still working through the 311 requests it received for financial assistance.

It has already paid out over $1 million and estimates damages at almost $12.6 million.

The Department of Public Safety had estimated damages at $20 million, but Paul Bradley with NB EMO says that figure includes both insurable and uninsurable losses in the private and public sectors.

In an email to CBC, Bradley said insurable losses are not eligible under Disaster Financial Assistance.

He says the $12.6-million represents the estimated damages, eligible for DFA, that occurred in the public sector as well as residential properties, small businesses and not for profit organizations.

The government released its 'lessons learned' from the storm earlier this month plus an action plan to improve things like communications.

Yauss says he knows what the storm taught him.

"I learned that I would never want to go through this again," he said.