By Ashley Wills

SARM warns of high cost to flood damage

May 12, 2011 | 6:51 AM

Over one hundred rural municipalities are still under a state of emergency due to spring flooding.

David Marit is president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. He knew damage was bad, but had no idea it would be so costly.
“We've had reports from some municipalities where the damage is going to be…two million dollars,” Marit said.

“We're talking bridges that are gone, we're talking a lot of culverts that are gone. Municipalities had to cut the roads to alleviate the flooding pressure.” Marit fears that farmers won't be able to get to their land with roads washed out. Many have make-shift roads set up until funding comes through. However, when it comes to a bridge being washed out there are no temporary solutions.

“We've heard cases where farmers have had to detour eight or nine miles to get to some land that they have. Well unfortunately, that's just the way it's going to have to be.”

Marit feels confident the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program will provide relief to farmers, but he expects the process to take a while. For now, he admits it's a waiting game: waiting for money to arrive, waiting on contractors and waiting for supplies.

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