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Disaster Financial Assistance for communities

Last updated on April 15, 2025

After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, a DFA program for that event is opened which may provide communities with financial assistance for damaged infrastructure.

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About the programs

DFA programs help communities recover by providing partial reimbursement for eligible infrastructure repairs. Programs accept applications from Indigenous communities and Local Government bodies as defined under  Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Funding may be provided to cover

  • Rebuilding or replacing essential public infrastructure to the pre-disaster condition
  • Repair to or replacement of essential materials
  • Removal of unusually heavy deposition in gravel beds, proven to be directly related to the event and supported by maintenance records
  • Insurance deductibles
  • Costs of inspection, appraisal, planning, and design required to determine the cost of repair, rebuilding, or replacing infrastructure or essential materials
  • Up to 10% of the eligible, incurred, construction costs of a project for administration. Must exclude salaries from regular employees
  • Compensation costs a community is obligated to pay under part 1 of the Compensation and DFA Regulation

By regulation, we can't cover

  • Work undertaken as preventative measures to guard against future damage as a separate project, or part of a DFA project component
  • Repair, replacement or rebuilding of public facilities which:
    • there is no proof of ownership, title or rights assigned
    • were not maintained or had significantly deteriorated before the disaster through neglect or undue wear and tear
  • Enhancements from pre-event functionality unless required by the prevailing codes in the area
  • Eroded or damaged land, except for essential access routes and the removal of debris
  • Betterments suggested by qualified professionals as a “best practice” which are not required by a prevailing code
  • Temporary works
  • Normal operating expenses such as equipment or regular salaries
  • Landscaping

For complete information, see part 3 and schedule 5 of the Compensation and DFA Regulation.

Eligible events

If you've recently experienced a disaster and it's not on the eligible events list, contact your indigenous or local government first.

There are no eligible events.

Apply to open programs

  1. Complete the fillable PDF application for Indigenous communities and local government
  2. Upon approval from the program, submit a completed Infrastructure Cost Recovery Plan (see next)

Infrastructure Cost Recovery Plan

You'll need to prepare a recovery plan that addresses repair or replacement of essential materials, structures, and public works. This should provide enough information to assess for eligibility under the Compensation and DFA Regulation. 

Include supporting documentation that clearly shows what infrastructure was damaged, what was the condition pre-event and what is the least-cost option to restore the damaged infrastructure to pre-event functionality.

  1. Complete the Infrastructure Cost Recovery Plan (ICRP)(XLS, 37KB), this includes instructions and samples
  2. Submit by email to DFA.public@gov.bc.ca

Submit Recovery Claim

After completion of a phase, or overall project from your approved recovery plan (ICRP), you can submit a recovery claim for reconciliation and/or reimbursement. Supporting documentation must be included with each claim to confirm accuracy of costs and compliance with the approved recovery plan.

  1. Complete Recovery Claim Submission (XLS)​
  2. Submit by email to DFA.public@gov.bc.ca

Questions?

Contact the Disaster Financial Assistance team with your questions or for more information.