Winnipeg has revealed that the severe snowstorm that hit the city last fall cost almost $10 million to clean up.
The storm, which occurred over the span of two days last October, damaged thousands of trees and power lines. The damage was so considerable that even crews from neighboring jurisdictions were called in to help with the clean-up.
According to a release by finance committee chair Scott Gillingham, the storm is contributing to the city’s deficit, but the loss is not as bad as anticipated. Winnipeg, however, may have to lean on its financial stabilization reserve fund, Gillingham stated.
CBC News noted that the deficit calculations (as of late November) do not include any disaster financial assistance funding from the provincial government. Manitoba has yet to announce whether Winnipeg will get any funding at all from the program.
The city has spent $4.8 million to clean up trees and branches, and another $1.3 million for snow removal and ice control. A report on the further operational and financial impacts of the storm is expected later this month.
