Dear Editor,
Shared letter sent to MLA Lisa Beare,
In late November the government announced a disaster support fund for flood affected residents and businesses in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, North Vancouver City, West Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, and Squamish First Nation.
More recently Surrey, Port Moody, and Anmore were added to this list for damage caused by the atmospheric river in October 2024.
There was flooding on roads that caused damage in Maple Ridge, yet it has not been included in this disaster support.
I live at the corner of 224 Street and 136 Avenue, and watched as a river of water came rushing down 224.
The current was so strong that some of my neighbours were evacuated by the fire department in inflatable rafts.
Volunteers brought us sandbags to put in front of our doors.
Even with a great deal of effort to stop the flow of water, our coach house – which has an office and gym on the first floor – suffered flood damage.
The floor and drywall had to be torn up and will have to be replaced.
This is not covered in our insurance policy. I am sure there are other residents who were similarly affected.
The fund is meant to compensate for sudden, unexpected, and uninsurable losses. It includes building repairs, cleanup and debris removal.
Application for compensation must be made within 90 days of the disaster being declared an eligible event. The deadline for the October 2024 flood is Feb. 23.
Why was Maple Ridge not included on the list for damage compensation?
Hopefully it is not too late to include us on the list.
Maya MacLennan, Maple Ridge
