Province expands zone eligible for flood relief

People living in some flooded parts of Ottawa, Clarence-Rockland, ChamplainTownship and Alfred and Plantagenetcan now apply forhelp covering their recovery expenses.

Ontario's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said Tuesday it has activated its Disaster Recovery Assistance program for flooded areas of thosemunicipalities, joining parts of Renfrew County and Pembroke, which became eligiblelast week.

The program now covers a long stretchof the Ottawa River's Ontario shoreline, from west of Deep River to Hawkesbury.

The program helps flood victims replace essential items andpay for repairs to their homes, small businesses, farms and non-profit organizations, providingup to $250,000 per application.

Application deadline Sept. 4

Anyone interested has until Sept. 4 to apply.

WithinOttawa, the program covers property near the shoreline from Arnprior to Clarence-Rockland, with the exception of the downtownstretch from the Prince of Wales Bridge to theCanada Aviation and Space Museum.

Small sections of the Rideau River shoreline in Old Ottawa East and Old Ottawa South are also eligible.

Clarence-Rockland's qualifying area includes everythingnorth of Baseline Road.

Alfred and Plantagenetresidents living in an area from Division Road in the west to Blue Corner Road in the east, following the South Nation River down to County Road 2, are eligible to apply for relief.

Champlain Townhip's area stretches from L'Ange-Gardien to the Hawkesbury border.

Flooding hasput hundreds of properties at risk since the Easter long weekend in eastern Ontario, along with homes in the Muskoka, Kawartha Lakes and Caledon areas, all of which could qualify for provincial assistance.