Contact: David Dexter, Director of Financial Services, 905-771-2484, david.dexter@richmondhill.ca

RICHMOND HILL – Richmond Hill is set to receive a $1.1 million interim payment from Ontario’s Ice Storm Assistance Program. The Ontario government is offering interim funding while it continues to review all claims received. Richmond Hill will request the interim funds as soon as possible.

“The 2013 ice storm had a significant impact on our community,” said Deputy Mayor Vito Spatafora. “We are pleased that interim funds are being made available to the municipalities including Richmond Hill.”

Every claim through the Ice Storm Assistance Program is being carefully reviewed by the Province. The timing of final payments in unknown as it will depend on the review process and the complexity of claims.

The Ice Storm Assistance Program is a one-time disaster relief program for the December 2013 ice storm. It focuses on costs related to the immediate emergency response, such as setting up warming centres and the subsequent cleanup of debris necessary to protect public safety. Richmond Hill submitted a claim for $3.25 million in December 2014. The total cost of responding to and recovering from the 2013 ice storm is estimated at $7 million.

Tree planting is not covered under the Assistance Program. Replanting of the approximately 5,000 municipal trees damaged in the storm will begin in spring 2015 and may take up to two years to complete.

The ice storm began late on December 21, 2013 and continued through December 22, 2013. At its peak, 36,000 of Richmond Hill's 60,000 PowerStream customers were without power. Most had power back by December 26, 2014, with full power restored by December 30, 2013. It is estimated that 200,000 trees were damaged on private and public property throughout the municipality. This included downed trees, toppling and broken branches which created dangerous conditions.