Canada Considering Giving Disaster Aid For New Brunswick Flood Victims

New Brunswick, Canada (AHN) - Residents whose properties were damaged by the swelling of the St. John River in New Brunswick eagerly await how much disaster aid the government will extend to them.

On Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured the flooded areas and intimated that both the federal and provincial governments would be extending financial aid to affected residents.

As of Saturday, floodwaters in the provincial capital, Fredericton, have started to recede. Reports said details of the financial package would be announced Sunday morning.

Residents are said to be looking forward to the emergency funds because majority of them never had home insurance. Apparently, flood-prone zones are considered very high-risk clients by insurance companies, and applications are often disapproved.

Earlier in the week, some 700 people have left their homes due to the floods. And, despite receding floodwaters, Emergency officials say it may still take several more days before home-owners can return to their properties.

Meanwhile, several communities in the Saint John River Valley have been advised to boil water to prevent contamination from the river's floodwaters, Also, motorists in the vicinity of Jemseg were told to be on the lookout for moose, who may have been displaced by floodwaters.