The Town of Athabasca has received their provincial Order in Council deeming the damage to Hees Estates last summer from excessive rainfall a disaster.
In August, the Town of Athabasca council moved to apply for financial assistance for the landowners under the province’s Disaster Recovery Program.
On Nov. 15, the Town of Athabasca’s application was recognized as a “disaster” in an Order in Council from Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson.
Mayor Colleen Powell said she is “incredibly pleased” because council was hoping the order would come within a year.
“I’m incredibly pleased. If they gave us $2.40 I won’t be, but I am pleased to hear that,” she said.
The damage was a result of 180 millimetres of precipitation in July – the highest in the province for that time period – and five lots in Hees Estates experienced excessive slumping.
Town chief administrative officer Robert Jorgensen said the town will now have to wait on Alberta Treasury Board and Finance for approval.
“Which – they won’t give me any timelines. It’s been approved but there’s no money,” he said.
Powell said the next several steps will include approaching the ministries involved to “determine the level of disaster and the financial compensation we will receive.”
“At this point, all we know is that our extreme rainfall event is recognized as a disaster,” she said. “A good first step.”
Lloydminster and Drumheller also received Orders in Council Nov. 15 declaring disasters due to overland flooding this past year.
