Help for Flood Victims

After recent flooding in parts of Belfast and County Down, Environment Minister, Edwin Poots has reminded  those affected that they may be eligible to receive financial support to assist with practical difficulties arising from the flooding under the Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme.

He urged those whose homes were severely damaged by recent flooding  to contact their local council to apply for an emergency payment. Mr. Poots recently visited Castlereagh, one of the areas worst affected by the recent heavy rain.
He said "Individual householders will be eligible for a £1,000 payment as an offer of practical assistance to those who have suffered severe inconvenience, to ensure homes are made habitable as quickly as possible. In addition, your council can also offer a range of practical help and guidance, including collection, retention and disposal of damaged household content, assistance in making arrangements to clean up homes and gardens, and by providing de-humidifiers to dry out homes."

Affected householders should contact their council to arrange an urgent inspection of their property. Eligible claimants should receive their payment within a matter of days. The £1,000 emergency payments were first introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive in June 2007, following a previous episode of severe flash flooding in east Belfast.