The British Columbia town of Cache Creek has declared a state of emergency after experiencing such devastating floods that one local artist told The Sadbury Star, "It was terrifying. I mean you come back and your entire village is engulfed in water. There was debris everywhere, and whole trees floating down the highway nothing you can do at that point.”
While that particular resident’s home remained “mostly unscathed,” many others were not so lucky. Fortunately for the inhabitants of Cache Creek, however, the Justice Minister announced that homeowners are eligible to benefit for relief funds from the province’s Disaster Financial Assistance initiative.
As a result, British Columbia will contribute 80% of repairs for homes that endured more than $1,000 in damages, with a maximum limit of $300,000.
Emergency Management BC (EMBC) also stipulated that claims may be honored in simultaneous categories, such as homeowner and farm owner, but recreational items like hot tubs, pools, jewelry and bicycles will not be covered.
Many Cache Creek residents are relieved, since their home insurance policies will not cover the substantial harm caused to esidential properties. One man told CTV News that his family was about to move into a refurbished home they had just purchased, but it is now damaged and his insurance provider won’t supply a payout.
"Traditional insurance just isn't covering that," he said.
The Van Tines are now residing in a trailer home until they can find a permanent solution.
In the meantime, the state of emergency distinction should help the province allocate additional funds to Cache Creek residents and homeowners during this trying time.
