Disaster Financial Assistance application process

If your property is damaged due to an active disaster, the first step is to report the damages. You can do so by registering online. 

Alternatively, if the situation requires activating the reporting line, the New Brunswick Emergency Management Organization will announce it through a news release. Once activated, damage can be reported by calling 1-888-298-8555 between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays

Be sure to:

• contact your insurance companies immediately to report damage
• take photos of damage to their homes or properties
• keep receipts of any repairs and replacement purchases
• log the number of hours of work undertaken for residents who are cleaning their own properties, or family members or those who have assisted in the cleanup of your property

Once you register, a Disaster Financial Assistance package will be mailed to you. Application packages are available online, but registration is still necessary. Damage assessments will be reviewed, and health and safety inspection teams may be dispatched if required.

In case of issues with the insurer, residents may call the Office of the Consumer Advocate for Insurance at 1-888-283-5111.

1. Register any property damages
2. Familiarize yourself with the Disaster Financial Assistance policy (publication).
3. Understand the maximum limit on household items listed under Schedule of loss (publication)
4. Complete an application form:
   • Applicant information for homeowners and residential tenants (PDF 264 KB)
   • Applicant information for charitable or volunteer organization (PDF 224 KB)
   • Application information for small business (PDF 307 KB)
5. Get all the required supporting documents listed under the Required Documentation Appendix in the application forms above.
6. Keep copies of your application form and supporting documents
7. Submit your application form and supporting documents by mailing it to:
   SNB Emergency Measures Organization
   Recovery Services Office
   65 Brunswick Street, 2nd Floor
   Fredericton,
   NB E3B 1G5

The application deadline is 90 days from the date Disaster Financial Assistance Program was authorized.

A New Brunswick Emergency Management Organization claims officer will review your application to see if you are eligible for the approved program. If you are, your claim will be sent to a third-party damage assessor contracted by the Department of Justice and Public Safety.

The assessor will then contact you to arrange a site visit to assess the damage to your property and belongings. The assessors will not be able to advise you on the amount of assistance you may receive. 

The independent damage assessor will assess all individual claims in a fair and unbiased way, according to industry standards, to determine eligibility under the guidelines established by the Disaster Financial Assistance Program. Payments are based on the assessor’s determination of damages and not necessarily on estimates and/or payments to private contractors. If at any time in the process it is determined that you will not receive assistance you will be informed in writing by the program manager.

• The following documents can be given to the assessor when he does a site visit:
• personal items lost or destroyed - homeowner or tenants
• inventory/equipment lost or damaged - Small Business or Not for Profits
• clean up log - All claims
• all invoices, receipts, estimates (if applicable) and photos - All claims

The assessor will then submit a report to the NB EMO recovery office where the report will be reviewed, and all calculations verified. Your claim is then verified by a provincial auditor to ensure that only eligible damages have been allowed prior to an assistance cheque being written. The cheque is then issued to you. 

Note: It is the claimant’s responsibility to attempt to reduce damage by taking necessary steps to save their property where possible. Maintaining accurate records of all damages will help expedite your claim. Failure to follow the noted steps could affect the outcome of your claim or cause delays in payment of eligible losses.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to make the necessary arrangements for clean-up and repairs. While the use of contractors to perform clean up or repairs is the property owner’s decision, it is strongly recommended that care be taken in choosing a contractor.

Government’s role is only to provide financial assistance in accordance with the Disaster Financial Assistance Guidelines and the property owner should be mindful that it does not necessarily cover all items or the full cost of clean-up or repairs that a contractor may charge.