A Princeton man was denied flood relief following the 2021 disaster, because of a dated driver害羞草研究所檚 license, and is still for waiting for help after filing an appeal with the province nearly a year ago.

Sam Perera, 50, continues to rebuild his home and has so far invested approximately $100,000 in the effort. He害羞草研究所檚 borrowed $60,000 from his line of credit and is now making monthly interest payments of $500 on that debt.

害羞草研究所淎 good friend told me, 害羞草研究所楽am, the best thing you can do is start fixing it. Don害羞草研究所檛 wait for these people.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Perera previously lived and rented a home in Surrey. He took possession of his Princeton house on Fenchurch Avenue 害羞草研究所� one the most devastated flood areas 害羞草研究所� Oct. 15, 2021, just 29 days before the disaster.

When the Tulameen River breached its dike and flooded the street, the water rose about four feet on the ground floor, destroying everything.

He applied for compensation under Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA), a federally funded program that is administrated by the province and pays 80 per cent of losses.

While his neighbours were receiving cheques, Perera was told he did not qualify for aid as his Fenchurch house was not his primary residence.

害羞草研究所淭hey said my primary house was my rental in Surrey. They said according to ICBC I didn害羞草研究所檛 change my address on my driver害羞草研究所檚 license. This is ludicrous.害羞草研究所�

Perera works at Copper Mine Mountain mine and his lease in Surrey expired Oct. 31, 2021.

While rebuilding his house he was forced to rent a local motel room, and he was able to move to his still-under-construction home in April 2022.

He filed an appeal with the DFA and received a call several months later stating that because of a backlog of appeal applications throughout the province he would have to wait for a decision.

He continues to wait, while feeling stung.

Last month he met federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair, who was touring the community害羞草研究所檚 flood-stricken neighbourhoods and observing the recovery process.

Blair is ultimately responsible for the DFA program. 害羞草研究所淗e said, 害羞草研究所業 wish you all the best,害羞草研究所� shook my hand and left.害羞草研究所�

Boundary Similkameen MLA Roly Russell expressed distress after hearing of Perera害羞草研究所檚 situation and pledged his assistance.

害羞草研究所淥ne hundred per cent, we will work to help resolve this,害羞草研究所� he told the Spotlight.

害羞草研究所淭hese kinds of administrative issues with the DFA are the kinds of things we wade into.害羞草研究所�

MP Dan Albas said while the delivery of DFA is handled at the provincial level, he would speak with Russell to lend his support.

Albas has been vocal about a lack of federal presence in flood recovery.

害羞草研究所淚n a case such as Sam害羞草研究所檚 it really calls into question when you hear (the government) tell us they will have your back and (they) will be there for you,害羞草研究所� Albas said.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com