By Laine Mitchell (Twitter: @Laine_Mitchell)

Brazeau County urging assistance from province due to Breton tornado

Jun 5, 2018 | 2:07 PM

Brazeau County is fighting back against the Alberta Emergency Management Agency’s decision to deny Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) assistance for damage that occurred during the tornado near Breton last July. 

The tornado caused damage to over 20 residents in its path, resulting in over $63,000 worth of uninsured expenses for property cleanup according to the county. 

The first DRP application from the county was processed and declined in January. An appeal of the decision was launched, however that appeal was shot down in April. 

In the letter addressed to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Brazeau County Reeve Bart Guyon said that the losses sustained due to the tornado is “money that our agricultural producers and residents need to invest in their farms and homes.”

It is hoped that the letter will encourage the province to reconsider the application, or in some form change the DRP legislation and regulations to support future Albertans struck by a similar situation. 

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“Brazeau County Council strongly believes these affected residents should qualify for DRP assistance, and we ask that you reconsider the Brazeau County application,” Guyon added. “At the very least, we request a review of DRP legislation and regulations with an aim to be more responsive to Albertans affected by similar disasters.”

Environment Canada rated the twister as an EF1 tornado, packing with it wind speeds between 135 and 175 kilometres per hour.