Debris left behind at a gas station in Cache Creek after the water from the flash flood receded, Saturday, May 23, 2015.

Image Credit: South Cariboo Search and Rescue

CACHE CREEK - Cache Creek residents impacted by the flash floods this past weekend will get help from the province through disaster financial assistance.

A severe storm system moved through the area Saturday, May 23, causing wide-spread flooding through the town and forcing evacuations as well as the closure of Highway 1.

On Sunday Mayor John Ranta declared a state of local emergency and on Monday, May 25, the province announced assistance would be made available to those unable to obtain insurance to cover disaster-related losses for people in the Cache Creek, Merritt, Logan Lake, Lytton and the electoral districts of Bonaparte Plateau (E), Blue Sky Country (I) and the Lower North Thompson (M and N.)

Applications, which can be accessed online, must be submitted by Aug. 24. 

Assistance is available to qualifying homeowners, residential tenants, small business owners, farm owners and charitable organizations. Applicants should be aware of the following:

- Financial assistance is provided for each accepted claim at 80 per cent of  the amount of total eligible damage that exceeds $1,000, to a maximum claim of $300,000.
- Claims may be made in more than one category (such as both homeowner and farm owner.)
- A homeowner or residential tenant must show that the home is their principal residence.
- Seasonal or recreational properties, hot tubs, patios, pools, garden tools, landscaping, luxury items (like jewelry, fur coats and collectibles), and recreational items (like bicycles) are not eligible for assistance.
- Small business owners and farm owners must demonstrate the property is their primary source of income. Owners of damaged rental property must apply and qualify as a small business.
- Charitable organizations must provide a benefit of service to the community at large.

Assistance is also available to local governments for:

- Emergency response measures authorized by Emergency Management B.C. by response task  number, including incremental costs associated with their Emergency Operations Centre. Financial assistance is provided for each accepted response claim at 100 per cent. Completed response claim summaries and supporting documentation must be sent to the respective EMBC Regional Office.
- Recovery measures to replace essential materials and rebuild or replace essential public infrastructures to the condition it was in before the disaster. Assistance is provided for each accepted recovery claim at 80 per cent of the amount of total eligible damage that exceeds $1,000.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 4:25 p.m., May 25, with additional areas approved for assistance.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015