The DFA Program

Qualifying for Assistance

Definitions

Private Residential Property: is an owner-occupied principal residence or a tenant-occupied residence. Tenants may apply for personal property and possessions only.

Full-time Farmer: is a farm operator who derives more than 50% of his or her gross income from farming or agricultural activities and has provided proof of income (tax records or other documents) that confirms gross declared income. Gross income is all income before expenses.

Full-time Small Business: is a business owner who derives more than 50% of his or her income from the business and has provided proof of income (tax records or other documents) that confirms gross declared income. Gross income is all income before expenses.

Non-Profit Organization: is an organization that operates "not-for-profit" and has a facility with unrestricted access by the community or provides services to the community.

Eligible Costs

• Pre-emptive costs
  • Costs incurred for the construction and removal of temporary dikes (berms or sandbags)
  • Costs of operation of water pumps and/or other equipment and machinery to prevent or limit damage to essential infrastructure
• Evacuation costs
  • When, at the direction of an authorized official, evacuation of persons or animals becomes necessary, reasonable expenses for accommodations, food and other essentials are eligible.
• Restoration
  • Clean-up and debris removal
    • Includes allowances for applicants undertaking their own clean-up
  • Structural damage
    • Principal residences
    • Buildings essential to the operation of a farm
    • Buildings essential to the operation of a small business
    • Farmland restoration (erosion) but not loss of market value of land
  • Loss or repair of essential items
    • Essential movables and chattels
    • Loss of harvested or stored crops
    • Livestock fencing
    • Inventory and equipment

Ineligible Costs

Assistance is not available for:

• Insurable losses
  Items that are, or could have been insured at a reasonable and available rate are not eligible.
• Costs recoverable through existing government program
• Losses recoverable at law
• Non-essential items
  • Luxury items
  • Recreational property and private roads
  • Lawn and garden damage
  • Fences (non-farm)
• Loss of income and opportunity or inconveniences
• Normal operating costs
• Upgrading of existing facilities
• Damages that are a normal risk of trade, occupation, or enterprise

The Process

Before, during and after the disaster, keep track of all your activities and expenses directly relating to the event. In order to verify your claim you will need to provide documentation describing what you have done and invoices for expenses you have incurred. Wherever possible photographs or videos of the damaged property should be taken and made available to EMO.

You are advised to contact your insurance provider to determine what if any of your costs may be eligible under your insurance policies.

Before you are eligible to apply for assistance, it is necessary for your municipality to pass and forward a resolution requesting DFA to EMO within 30 days following the disaster.

Once a program is in place, you have 90 days to apply for assistance.

Applying for assistance

Limitations

The maximum amount of DFA payable per claim is $100,000.

All DFA payments are subject to a 20% deductible.

DFA payments may be reduced for assistance received from other sources if the other sources of assistance are for duplicate costs.

DFA programs will be open for a period of one year. Applicants will be advised of the program closure date and must complete repairs and submit all the required documentation by the program closure date.

Additional Information

For more specific information on program coverage, please refer to these Policies and Guidelines: