Government aid - 05.02.2010

As we go to print the Canarian Government has today pledged aid to help those affected by the recent bad weather.

The Canarian Government Council approved at its meeting today the decree of aid and urgent and exceptional action to repair damage caused by the storms of wind and rain that struck the archipelago earlier this week.

• Families who have lost their belongings will receive emergency aid of up to 8,500 euros.
  
• The Government shall cover 50 percent of the repair cost of homes destroyed.
  
• The decree adopted today also provides compensation for damage to vehicles and tourist farms.
  
• The Government will participate in the rehabilitation of municipal infrastructure and islands affected by the storm
  
• The Department of Public Works and Transportation will undertake a special performance to regain access to nuclei isolated from the Anaga Mountains.
  

There will be various support measures for affected families, and grants to repair damage to homes, vehicles, infrastructure and agricultural production or tourism. The measures and assistance will be complementary and compatible, where appropriate, with which they might establish other government bodies.
Rental assistance
Regarding the housing that had become unserviceable, the Government has granted aid of 600 euros per month to owners to enable them to rent adequate housing for their family needs for a period of 24 months, renewable.
Similarly, support is foreseen for housing tenants who had been destroyed.  In the latter case, the aid will be the difference that may exist between the income of distressed housing and housing of similar characteristics a new lease for a maximum period of 24 months.
The decree adopted today also provides support for damage to vehicles up to a maximum of 6,000 euros.
With respect to production and infrastructure in the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture will be responsible for process and grant aid in farming and agriculture, to be determined depending on a number of parameters as the expected production in the campaign or the replacement cost of affected plantations (in the case of woody agricultural production), among others.
The decree adopted today also provides support for tourist and catering businesses and professionals that have 49 or fewer workers, who have suffered damage to vehicles, buildings or machinery.
As for the repair of municipal infrastructure and islands, the Canary Islands Government will provide up to 25 percent of the island works and 45 percent for the city.
The Governing Council also agreed at its meeting today that the Department of Public Works and Transportation of emergency declared that require urgent work to restore access to population centers that are held incommunicado in the Anaga massif.