As we near a month from the heavy rains of July 1, which flooded many homes and businesses in the city, many people are still dealing with the aftermath.
"We're still working with the provincial ESS (Emergency Services) with respect to re-location of some families," said David Putz, Yorkton City Manager Monday. "That's still to be completed."
Putz said as of Friday there were still families in emergency housing at SIGN On Broadway.
Long-term housing for those people, as work is carried out to repair homes, is being formalized, said Putz.
"That's an area provincial emergency services deals with," he said.
As of last week the City released numbers showing 220 people had registered with Provincial Emergency Social Services, and 170 were displaced from their homes.
Transient aid totalled $2,350, with shelter accommodation costs of $10,710.
In addition, approximately 500 people went through the central service centre, and 1000-to-1200 phone calls received at the central service centre.
Putz said the other major issue the City is still dealing with is ensuring houses which were deemed unfit for habitation have been repaired to proper standards before people move back in.
"One of issue for us is a number of homes needing inspection, and re-inspection," he said.
As of last week the City was estimating costs of $28,000 to its building department, including approximately 650 staff hours covering four staff from City of Yorkton Building Services, four inspectors from Regina and two inspectors from Professional Building Inspections. A total of 195 calls for service were handled. Six buildings were roped off, 34 business licenses issued, and 148 inspections completed.
In driving around the city there are still significant piles of garbage on the street.
The City though is no longer picking up everything left out.
"We have discontinued the general pick-up," said Putz.
Putz said while general collection of refuse left on the boulevards has ended, City crews are still picking up the garbage in some situations.
"There are still some we are cleaning up," he said, explaining those who had called and were placed on the City's list are still being accommodated. " The people who called in and asked for assistance are being helped."
However, in other cases removal of the refuse will be the responsibility of the homeowner now.Putz said as an example where a contractor is doing insurance approved work, removal costs will be covered by insurance, and so it falls to the homeowner.
Bylaw control officers will be visiting some homes to explain the situation, added Putz.
Emergency Social Services (Community Development, Parks and Recreation) received 185 clean up requests, 493 curb side requests, helped with 150 houses being cleaned out.
In terms of insurance it is estimated upwards of 2500 claims were made in the city, with approximately 50- 60 adjusters working in Yorkton to process the claims.
In addition to insurance claims the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) has received 684 applications with the City, and 314 applications with the Province. More are expected as insurance claims are assessed.
As for the total cost of the flood, Putz said they are now past trying to estimate the costs, and are now "trying to deal with what those costs are," adding formalizing the numbers will require "a few more weeks."
Beyond costs directly to the City, two other organizations did a lot of work through the flood, the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
The Red Cross had 209 people register (152 adults and 57 children), with 68 people placed into accommodation.
A total of $38,990 in vouchers were issued for clothing, accommodation, and food.
There were 36 volunteers and 16 staff members involved in relief efforts, with approximately 1312 combined hours dedicated to the Yorkton disaster.
The Salvation Army distributed 189 food hampers at a cost of $7,120, with refreshments served to 945 people at a cost of $867.
The total cost of the Salvation Army's effort has been close to $20,000, with $10,000 received in donations.
Putz said while people are getting over the initial shock of the situation, much work remains to be done in homes and businesses.
"It's going to be months before we're back to the kind of normal of before the flood," he said.
