NORTH BAY -- When flooding washed away streets, ruined basements and displaced nearly 100 people in the town of Mattawa, it seemed like no end was in sight.
"It was great to see how everybody came together. We fought this thing, and we conquered it," said Mayor Dean Backer.
When water levels dropped weeks later, there was a sense of relief in the air.
But, the damage was evident. Basements, apartments, roads, and personal property were affected.
To help the town with the rebuild, the province announced over $2.2 million in funding to help fix three main roads, the town's main bridge, sewers, the water main crossing and culverts.
The flood cost the town between $4 to 5 million dollars, and that wasn't just from damage but lost tourism and economic revenue.
"This is going to help us immensely. We're going through budget deliberation," said Backer, who is ecstatic about the funding announcement. "This would have been all on the taxpayer. This is going to alleviate that concern."
In the aftermath of the Mattawa flood and other flooding last Spring, the province created its’ Ontario Flooding Strategy,’ looking at how better to protect people and communities from future floods.
"I sat on those hearings. Mayor Backer did as well," said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli .
"Many people in Mattawa were involved so we can try to curtail the next natural disaster."
Backer expects the town to begin work on the repairs as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down.
