After months of waiting, communities in BC hard-hit by November’s atmospheric rivers are now starting to see money flowing into the rebuilding process.
The BC government has announced 10 different communities and regional districts — including Merritt and the TNRD — will be getting parts of a 53-million dollar allocation announced today.
Merritt will be getting just over 24-million of that, which mayor Linda Brown says will go toward the building of temporary structures to house trades people — as well as people who remain out of their homes.
“Part of this will be temporary housing so we can bring some of the trades in, so they can actually help the residents get in their homes,” said Brown. “But the other part is that we can build some temporary and permanent housing for some of our citizens.”
There are still over 700 people in Merritt who remain out of their homes due to the flooding.
The Thompson Nicola Regional District is getting over 100-thousand dollars in grant money for emergency preparedness.
The TNRD is one of 10 communities and regional districts the BC government is allocating the funds toward.