Quebec Residents Left Feeling Abandoned Following August Flooding
The government of Quebec has processed payments for less than 10 percent of the nearly 10,000 claims received since Hurricane Debby struck the province in August, causing significant flooding and damage.
In Montreal, where a record-breaking 150 millimetres of rain fell during the storm, only nine out of 1,900 claims have been paid, despite an initial promise from Premier François Legault to expand financial aid for flood victims.
Many residents who suffered significant damage and were hopeful for assistance are now feeling neglected by municipal and provincial authorities.
On August 9 and 10, the storm severely impacted southern Quebec, causing road washouts, power outages for half a million households, and flooding thousands of homes.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the storm was the costliest severe weather event in Quebec’s history, with insured damage estimated to be nearly $2.5 billion.
After the storm, Legault mentioned a temporary expansion of a provincial assistance program for disaster victims to cover sewer backups in addition to water damage from lakes and rivers. This provided hope for many affected residents, but the program rules did not actually change.
The Public Security Department in Quebec stated that claims are being flexibly assessed, with eligibility for sewer backup claims linked to nearby waterway overflow. However, homeowners far from water sources may not qualify.
As of now, Quebec has processed payments for about 7% of the 10,076 claims received, mainly in Mauricie and Lanaudière regions.
While some claims have been paid out, many residents have been denied assistance, leaving them to cover repair costs on their own.
In an economic update, Quebec estimated the total cost of damages caused by Hurricane Debby to be $250 million, with $100 million allocated for individuals and businesses through the disaster financial assistance program.
Many residents feel let down by the lack of promised help and are now dealing with the aftermath of the storm without the financial aid they had hoped for.
