At least 76 homes in the town of Port aux Basques are destroyed or structurally damaged due to Hurricane Fiona. Long Range Mountains MP and Minister of Rural and Economic Development Gudie Hutchings provided the update yesterday.
Some residents were allowed into one heavily-damaged area of Port aux Basques during a short window yesterday.
Mayor Brian Button says a few homes in the area of Water Street West are accessible and intact and residents were allowed escorted access to their properties to check them out and to pick up necessary items.
Other homes in the area are compromised and considered too dangerous to enter, while others are inaccessible for what Mayor Button calls “obvious” reasons.
Premier Andrew Furey says the rebuild of Port aux Basques will take time, and he suggests that some families may have to build in areas removed from where they originally settled.
He says there are opportunities to rebuild “stronger” and with different considerations than those when the homes were first built. “Nothing will be done without due consultation with the individuals…and the communities involved.”
He referenced a program put in place years ago to move people in Badger from areas which were prone to flooding.
The federal government is sending HMCS Margaret Brooke to the south coast of the island to do “wellness checks” on the communities.
Minister Hutchings visited Fox Roost, Margaree, and Burnt Islands yesterday, and expects to visit other south coast communities this week.
Later in the week, she wants to visit Burgeo and Ramea which have also seen damage caused by the storm.
Financial Package Coming for Those Without Insurance
Premier Andrew Furey says a financial package will be announced in the coming days to help people whose losses are not covered by insurance.
Area MHA Andrew Parsons says even those who did not have coverage have to go through the insurance process, and he’s been approached by lawyers who will be offering that assistance, pro bono.
The message Parsons wants to convey to all of those who have insurance but found out they’re not covered, or who don’t have insurance, is that “we will be there.”
