The City of Peterborough estimates the cost of the May 21 storm at $3.3 million to date – Peterborough | Globalnews.ca

The cleanup process for the May 21st entitlement has been a long one and will likely take several more weeks in the City of Peterborough.

according to a report that went to the general committee on Mondayactual and estimated costs to date for the storm total $3.3 million.

Staff will continue to monitor actual costs as they are incurred and determine if the minimum threshold for the provincial Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program has been met.

MDRA provides funds to municipalities for natural disaster response and recovery costs when those costs equal at least three percent of the municipality’s own tax revenue, which is $4.4 million, or approximately $1.1 million more than the current estimate of the cost of the storm.

“MDRA funds 75 percent of eligible costs up to three percent of the self-employment tax revenue threshold and 95 percent of costs above that threshold,” the report states.

In the aftermath of the storm, the city declared a state of emergency on May 24.

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Hydro One, with the help of several utilities from across Canada and the US, fully restored power to the city on May 31.

According to the report, public works responded to more than 12,100 calls for service in the week after the storm.

Estimated cost to date for tree removal, cleanup, and purchase and rental of cleanup equipment is $625,000.

The city expanded green waste collection to assist with the removal of limbs and tree limbs from private property with a specialized collection beginning the week of June 20.

A free temporary drop off site has been set up on Kennedy Road until June 19.

The City estimates the total costs to receive, process, and transport the additional green waste to be $400,000.

Fees for receiving green waste at the landfill were suspended throughout the month of June.

For social services, special emergency assistance was provided to 4,335 people to replace spoiled food, at a cost of $325,125.

Future costs for restoring the city’s tree canopy are estimated at $1.75 million.

In addition to MDRA, there is also a Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program, which requires activation by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

So far, neither program has been activated for the city, although the two programs can be activated independently and do not depend on each other.

The report will go to council for final approval on July 25, with a follow-up report expected in September.