How Niagara residents can manage waste, insurance claims after recent floods

Flood recovery efforts are continuing in the Niagara region through debris clean-up and insurance filings.

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe says an update to the Flood Alleviation Program will be announced on Friday and that next week’s council meeting will hopefully produce a resolution.

“In a typical year we budget for between 30 and 50 applications, 30 is the normal number. This year just over the last couple weeks, we received 3,000 applications … and that’s why we’re going to the provincial government,” Siscoe says.

“We need help with this. This is definitely an infrastructure project. I’ve tried to say if I can get 3,000 homes in St. Catharines off of the sanitary system when it comes to storm water, they’re no longer overlanding to the sanitary system, that takes so much pressure away from our sanitary sewers.”

Waste Clean-up

Lincoln and St. Catharines have both extended their curbside waste pick-up service until August 22.

For curbside pick-up, residents are being reminded to keep the safety of collection crews in mind by avoiding leaving sharp items exposed including nails or glass.

Niagara region is also asking residents to separate their flood-related garbage from their regular household garbage.

Residents are advised to place their materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on their scheduled day within four feet of the roadway.

Bags or cans must not weigh over 50 lb each.

Accepted items include drywall, insulation, plumbing pipes and construction wood but do not include household hazardous waste, electronics and batteries.

In addition to the expanded curbside waste collection, tipping fees are waived at Humberstone Landfill and Bridge Street Waste Depot.

Large bins are also available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre and Bill Burgoyne Memorial Arena until next Saturday.

For more information on the temporary waste services due the flooding, residents can visit Niagara region’s website.

Filing Insurance Claims

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is providing affected residents with key insurance information and recovery tips after recent flooding across the Niagara region in late July and early August.

IBC has launched its Virtual Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (V-CAMP) helpline to offer one-on-one support for residents as they start the recovery process.

“They may have had a home for 40 or 50 years and never had an insurance claim,” says Amanda Dean, president and CEO of IBC.

“Our virtual camp includes access to individuals who have lots of industry experience … They can help individuals navigate the insurance process, they can suggest questions, they can take a look at situations if something doesn’t sound right.”

IBC is advising affected residents to assess and thoroughly document the damage when it is safe to do so and to call their insurance provider to report damages.

The organization also recommends residents keep photos, receipts and warranties as proof and keep damaged items until they pose a health hazard.

It is also recommended to remove and dispose of any wet or mold-damaged items as soon as possible to help prevent further damage.

IBC says if a resident has been displaced, it is best to keep the receipts for additional living expenses as well as to ask their insurance representative if they are covered for additional living expenses and for what period of time.

For more key insurance and recovery information, affected residents can visit IBC’s website.

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