Cape Breton flood response moves from emergency to rebuild

A week after an unexpected 200-plus millimetres of rain caused massive flooding on Thanksgiving Day in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, the provincial government will step into the role of managing and helping pay for the recovery.

Regional Mayor Cecil Clarke held another inseries ofmedia briefings Tuesday following an flood response update for new and returning regional councillors.

"We've gone from the emergency managementside to the recovery and rebuild," he said.

Part of that involves turning over more responsibilities to the provincial government and thedisaster financial assistance arrangement (DFAA), which helps pay for repairs and damage.

Helpline to stay open

Humanitarian efforts, led by the UnitedWay and the Salvation Army, will proceedunder DFAA criteria, he said.

"They'll respond to individual needs based upon what's coming in at our help desk," Clarke said. "Our help desk now has in excess of 900 contacts in."

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The municipality's floodhelpline will continue to operate through the end of next week.

Public information sessions for those with questions about damage to their properties and the recovery process will be held Tuesday night at Centre 200 and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Glace Bay Firehall.

Moving forward

Clarke said the municipality has dispersed about $20,000 since last Tuesday to those driven from their homes andinneed ofimmediate help with food and shelter.

The application process has commenced for those who will make claims underthe DFAA.

Longer-term shelter for those staying with friends or in hotels will be available at the Canadian Coast Guard College in Westmount and on the Cape Breton University campus.

18 homes uninhabitable

Police are particularly concerned with protecting 18homes in Sydney that have been declared uninhabitable and areare now empty.

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"Part of the police response in emergency situations is to protect property and life," said police Chief Peter MacIsaac.

"We have a 24/7 police presence down there, special duty officers who are specifically assigned to that area. They're doing food patrols, checking vehicles, checking people within that area to ensure people's residences that are unoccupiedand the valuables that are contained within are secure at all times."