Picture taken 2010 – Update to earlier ODN stories:

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has satisfied its commitment to a process that provided relief funding to victims of the June 2010 Testalinda Debris Flow.

The Regional District was charged with disbursing about $43,500 in donations through an unmet-needs-committee in the community.

“The fund was established to assist individuals and families who did not have their needs met by individual insurance coverage or government assistance,” explained Emergency Services Supervisor Dale Kronebusch.

About $13,400 of that amount was distributed via purchased food vouchers to affected residents in August and September 2010. The remaining $29,890 remained untouched until insurance and provincial assistance claims were settled.

“Unfortunately it took more than two years for that process to resolve itself, with affected residents working with their insurance companies and the provincial government,” said Kronebusch. “Finally, a year later we were provided with a list of residents who qualified under the “unmet needs” concept and we were able to release the funds.

“The process took a little longer because we needed to verify the addresses of the intended recipients,” he added.

The Regional District eventually distributed the remaining funds evenly among the 12 identified parties.

The Testalinda Debris Flow resulted in the evacuation of 26 properties near Oliver. Most of the residents were returned to their homes within several days.