Reminder to homeowners to apply for flood mitigation permit

The deadline for home and property owners in designated flood fringe areas to apply for municipal permits for Disaster Recovery Program flood mitigation work is March 31, 2014.

The Government of Alberta would like to remind all those home and property owners living in flood fringe areas who applied to the 2013 Southern Alberta Floods Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) for financial assistance that the deadline to apply for municipal permits for flood mitigation work is approaching.

The province recognizes that it may be difficult for 2013 flood-affected home and property owners to complete minimum mitigation measures in time for the 2014 flood season. Because of this, it is important to ensure future DRP eligibility by completing one of the following two options:

• Obtain a permit by March 31, 2014, to show intent to complete minimum mitigation measures.
• If obtaining a permit is not possible, submit a Notice of Intent to Mitigate to the DRP stating your plan to undertake mitigation work.

In the case of flood fringe rebuilds, including mitigation measures in a work plan will also be recognized as intent to mitigate. However, permits must still be acquired.

Flood mitigation must be undertaken by home and property owners receiving DRP funding in the flood fringe to qualify for government assistance in the event of future flooding.

Obtaining permits or submitting a Notice of Intent to Mitigate by March 31, 2014, will ensure DRP flood coverage in the event of future flooding.

Mitigation work must be completed by December 31, 2014, to be eligible for funding after that date.

If you do not have access to the forms online you can request to have a Flood Mitigation Measures and Permit Form mailed to you by calling the DRP Call Centre toll -free at 1-888-671-1111.

The province is committed to building a safer Alberta by helping prevent damage from future floods using a common sense approach to mitigation.

Public service reminder courtesy of Flood Recovery Task Force press release, 18 March 2014.