The Government of Alberta is providing up to $147 million to help Albertans in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Mackenzie County recover and rebuild after spring flooding caused significant damage.

The new Disaster Recovery Program will provide financial support to residents and business owners for uninsurable damages, as well as help restore municipal infrastructure.

“Today’s announcement from the Government of Alberta is great news in support of our community and the people impacted by this historic flood. While we are just beginning our path to recovery, this commitment demonstrates how Albertans always come together to help each other during challenging times. We thank Premier Kenney, Minister Madu and our MLAs for their timely support to our residents when it is needed most. Fort McMurray and our region has persevered before and we will once again," says Don Scott, mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

The recent warm temperatures and ice jams in northern Alberta caused overland flooding and sewer backup, forcing more than 14,000 Albertans from their homes. Most have been allowed to return home, but more than 3,000 remain displaced due to significant damages to their property. 

The Disaster Recovery Program helps communities recover from undue hardship as a result of an extraordinary disaster. In order to be considered extraordinary, the disaster must meet certain criteria, such as a one-in-100-year event relating to rainfall, streamflow, ice jams, overland flood, wildfire or strong winds.

Homeowners, tenants, small businesses and agricultural operations are eligible to apply for funding that will go towards cleanup costs and repairing uninsurable damage to infrastructure and buildings.

How to apply for financial assistance for your home or property

Funding is available to communities to help those affected recover and rebuild following a disaster.

If your community is approved for a Disaster Recovery Program and you are eligible to receive funding, you can use the online application portal and submit your application beginning on May 11. To apply, or for more information on Disaster Recovery Programs and approvals, visit: alberta.ca/disaster-recovery-programs.aspx.

For municipalities outside of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Mackenzie County, the hydrological data required to create a Disaster Recovery Program is not yet available and no decision has been made regarding the eligibility of these communities.

How to apply for emergency evacuation payments

Evacuees in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Mackenzie County affected by spring flooding can apply online for emergency evacuation payments at: alberta.ca/emergency. To date, government has provided more than 7,400 Albertans with emergency evacuation payments totalling nearly $8 million.