Regional Flood Support Line closing Friday

The Western Cape Breton Regional Emergency Management Organization is winding down its dedicated resident support line following last weekend’s severe flooding.

The line, established after a Local State of Emergency was declared on September 5th, will close Friday, September 11th at 4 p.m. It was available to residents in Inverness, Victoria and Richmond Counties and the Town of Port Hawkesbury for reporting non-emergency issues and concerns.

About 80 calls were received through the support line, covering questions regarding road conditions, insurance questions and information requests regarding emergency response.

But the closure does not mean residents are being left on their own.

Beginning Monday, September 14th, residents with ongoing flood-related questions or concerns are being asked to return to their normal municipal contacts. Each municipality will continue to provide information and direct residents to the appropriate resources.

For those dealing with property damage, officials continue to recommend contacting your insurance provider. Residents without insurance who have questions about their options can seek information through the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

There are also different contacts depending on the problem you’re facing. Provincial road or culvert damage should be reported to Nova Scotia Public Works, while concerns about an impacted drinking water source should be directed to the provincial Department of Environment and Climate Change.

The dedicated support line is closing, but the recovery continues for communities across Western Cape Breton.

And one important reminder: any emergency situation should still be reported to 911.