CBRM giving cheques to people who lost home to flood

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will be giving out chequesthis weekend to owners ofhomes severely damaged by theThanksgiving Day flood.

The flood inundatedSydney and surrounding communities, leaving 29 homes marked as "no occupancy."

Those homeowners will receive money this weekend, but Christina Lamey, executive assistantfor the mayor,could not confirm the amount or how that money would be distributed.

More money will follow from the province's disaster financial assistance fund, Lamey said. Whenexactlyis still not determined.

'$1K two weeks ago'

It's good news toTrishO'Neill. Her family's home on St. Peter's Road in Sydney, N.S.,was destroyed in the flood. It's now marked as no occupancy.

"We got a cheque for $1,000 two weeks ago and that's about it," O'Neill said.

She said her family isn't covered under their insurance. They're renting a home and moving in next week. O'Neill said the cost of moving out and setting up somewhere else is not cheap.

"Credit cards and lines of credit are being run up," she said. "We're still having to pay a mortgage on a house that we can't live in."

Residents in the areas hardest hit in Cape Breton, like O'Neill, aregrowing frustrated and say they need more direct financial help.

Clean up continues

O'Neill said she goes to her home every day, puts a mask on and packs up a bit more of her families belongings.

While she said she's appreciative of the community's support, she doesn't feel like they're getting the financial help they need soon enough.

O'Neill said many government officials have visited her area including local MLAs, along with Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Gooddale and Premier Stephen McNeil.

"There's certainly been interest in a lot of people wanting to help,and not to be too crass about it,but show me the money," she said.