Fighting for restitution

Times Contributor 

 

The rubble of Hidden Valley stands as a reminder of the slow and ineffectual response by authorities to address the majority of flood victims post-flood problems. Insurance claims are still unresolved. People have no permanent housing or replacement housing. Many are displaced without any consideration for financial losses. Three months after flood waters subsided, the residual red tape continues to impede Albertan’s ability to recover from their trauma.

“We wish people understood the devastation this has caused and the extent that it has ruined lives. The flood is no longer in the news but the issues are still here. We feel forgotten. We are in limbo,” said Colleen Best.

Best is part of a newly formed group called Kindred Companions, who are working to help Hidden Valley residents get some attention, help and compensation for their losses, (the group is not affiliated with the old Hidden Valley board). Similar groups are springing up in other Southern Alberta communities affected by the flood.

Best said many residents are still fighting for compensation from insurance companies. One of the Hidden Valley residents was reimbursed $50,000, but others are awaiting decisions and most have been denied coverage. Thirteen of 16 readings of positive sewer contamination were located throughout the resort by a private assessment firm, however, some of the insurance companies are still denying homeowners had sewer backup. They have not investigated further or allowed compensation. 

Coldwell Insurance in Strathmore was contacted regarding their policy. Manager Joyce Fisher said they were very sympathetic to customers affected by the flood. 

“We try to advocate for our customers as we know what has happened and they are in a bad situation,” said Fisher. 

They have had a lot of claims, but being a brokerage firm they are once removed and have to refer the file up the chain of command to the main insurance provider. They are finding progress slow as there are not enough adjusters to assess and process claims. 

There are some insurance providers publically stating they keep customers problems in mind. The AMA website lists the following: “At AMA we’re committed to our policyholders. Our goal is to take good care of our members and to help support them through what, for many, is the most traumatic event of their lives.” They say they are leaning on decisions favouring the policy holder but encourage appeals on negative decisions.

The problem for many is that the provincial and federal resource structures won’t advance money until the insurance companies have signed off. If the original claim takes forever, the appeals may only delay repeated rejection.

Stress for victims comes in big and little packages.  

For example, Hidden Valley lot rebates are being held until the lease terminates in December. It is a small amount in the scheme of things, but would help with some of the property holders’ bills. To add insult to injury, the utility companies are still billing residents for their electric and heating bills, even if the house was demolished or washed away.

“There is no metre, no consumption. You can’t reach anyone to talk to as the call centres are in the Philippines. I finally reached someone and they said we had to cancel service, it wasn’t enough that the house is no longer standing. Then they continue to bill you for administration and service fees. It just makes me crazy,” said Earl Best.

Colleen Best said financial compensation is not the only issue. Many residents are having residual health issues. Breathing problems, headaches, trouble sleeping and stomach complaints are among the many symptoms. Family members field questions from their children about where they will spend their holidays. Long anticipated family celebrations are cancelled with no money or place for them to occur. Best said the former residents have post-traumatic stress and unresolved anger issues. For those who have suffered financial losses, a visit to the psychologist is even too much. The provincial government doesn’t cover complete treatment fees either. No one from federal, provincial or aboriginal services has checked for an update on former residents’ condition. Calls for help have been deferred or ignored.

Best said she doesn’t understand how the Alberta Government can exclude one person’s trauma over another’s.

In a nation that holds equality of all persons as a statute, the discriminatory factors in play seem an injustice. It is sad that traumatized residents have to resort to public fundraisers to begin recovery, while the provincial government designates a $275 million office renovation complete with rooftop garden and allows government executives to waste millions in expense accounts. In revolutionary France, the result of Marie Antoinette’s ‘Let them eat cake’ attitude had serious consequences for its rulers. Citizen outrage today is expressed through class action law suits. A one hundred million dollar class action was started by Manitoba residents after the 2011 Manitoba floods, and a one billion dollar class action was successfully awarded to victims of flooding in Australia. There have been other successful class action settlements over flooding in the United States. The Alberta Government did have prior knowledge to mitigate the potential flood concerns outlined in the 2006 Groeneveld report, but did not implement all of them. No class action has been started to date by Alberta victims eliminated from compensation by the Alberta Government guidelines.