Vaughan seeks disaster relief funding from government

Vaughan Weekly
January 15, 2014
By Angela Gismondi

The City of Vaughan is looking to get some funding from the government to help cover the cost of the damage caused by the ice storm.

A special council meeting was held Tuesday to provide an overview of the ice storm, which hit Vaughan and the Greater Toronto Area on Dec. 20, the impact it had on the municipality and the recovery efforts currently underway. At the meeting, Vaughan Council passed a resolution requesting disaster relief funding for the substantial damage to municipal property and infrastructure which occurred as a result of the storm.

In the resolution, council recommended the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing declare the entire City of Vaughan a disaster area so that the municipality will be eligible to apply for the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).

The resolution also states that should any program be established by the provincial or federal government to provide financial assistance for damages caused by the severe ice storm, that the City submit an application to receive funding.

A presentation was made by the Interim City Manager Barbara Cribbett at the meeting. Cribbett said the estimated financial implications resulting from the ice storm in the City of Vaughan is $21 million.

“As a full assessment of damages is ongoing, these costs are preliminary and will change as assessment and remediation work continues,” reported Cribbett.

“In follow-up to the December ice storm event and the subsequent coordinated emergency response, the Interim City Manager in consultation with the Emergency Management Team will prepare a review report for Council. The review report will provide more fulsome details on the activities of City departments.”

Much of the costs have to do with forestry and downed trees Cribbett explained. It is estimated that 32,500 trees were damaged by the storm.

In addition, 37,700 customers experienced power outages in Vaughan at the height of the storm. The City had 136 staff on rotating shifts at the Emergency Operations Centre for 462 hours. At the warming centres, 19 staff were on rotating shifts for 144.5 hours. Between Dec. 21 and 26, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service responded to 1,726 telephone inquiries, 406 emergencies and 42 carbon monoxide calls.

Access Vaughan was also operating during the storm with two to three staff members on alternating shifts.

They answered 1,412 ice storm-related calls.

Parks and forestry also had a number of crews out plus 23 contractor crews to clear trees from public areas and roadways.

Clean-up operations are expected to take over a year to fully complete, Cribbett explained.

Tree removal and pruning will take place over the next nine weeks followed by four weeks of clean-up in the spring.

Stumping and replacements are expected to take place by Dec. 2015, pending budget approval.

Cribbett explained ODRAP is intended to assist those whose essential property has been extensively damaged as a result of a sudden, unexpected natural disaster such as a sever windstorm, tornado or flood. Under the program funding may be provided by the province to affected municipalities for disaster response and recovery.

The program provides financial assistance within a declared disaster area to restore damaged public infrastructure to pre-disaster condition when the cost of restoration exceeds the financial capacity of the affected individuals, municipality and community at large.

Examples of eligible public losses and costs under ODRAP include:

- Food/water for volunteers and disaster relief workers;
- Emergency response supplies;
- Municipal owned equipment costs (at 50 per cent of MTO Rate) or equipment rental costs (prorated);
- Activation of the municipal emergency operations centre;
- Clearing and removal of debris and wreckage, including removal of buildings and removal of trees and limbs if public safety is endangered;
- Overtime for employees and those hired for disaster response/relief effort, or to backfill for regular employees deployed for disaster response/relief efforts;
- Incremental administrative costs related to disaster relief committee;
- Emergency communications;
- Additional security costs;
- Repair and restoration to pre-disaster condition of uninsured public facilities (e.g. buildings, libraries, recreational facilities including parks, roads and drains, infrastructure); and
- Evacuation and shelter of people and animals, including incremental operating expenses.

In order to be eligible for the program, municipalities must apply within 14 working days from the onset of the disaster, which means the deadline was Jan. 14 (Tuesday).

Ministry staff has advised City staff that the general rule for minimum damage in eligible costs required in order to qualify for ODRAP funding is four per cent of tax revenues.

In Vaughan’s case that would be about $6.2 to $6.3 million, Cribbett explained. The estimated cost is $21 million.

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said the impact of the storm will be felt for some time.

“There is still much work to be done,” he said. “It will take time to clear away all the damaged trees from the ice storm. Our top priority continues to be the safety of our community as well as clean-up.”