Overview
Financial assistance is available to help when facing uninsurable loss after a disaster.
The Provincial Recovery Framework provides a foundation to build and strengthen our ability to coordinate provincial resources during recovery. It outlines existing approaches to create a consistent and effective provincial approach.
The Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program (HARP), formerly known as the Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) and the Municipal Wildfire Assistance Program (MWAP), is intended to assist with eligible natural hazard events. A local authority must first apply to the Alberta Emergency Management Agency for a HARP, and if approved, individuals and small businesses and other public sector applicants may apply for assistance within the program.
A state of local emergency does not have to be declared to receive financial assistance under a HARP.
The DRP and MWAP programs approved before 2025 will continue to be assessed using the Disaster Assistance Guidelines for the applicable program year.
Eligible disasters
After April 1, 2025
Not all disasters qualify for financial assistance under the HARP. The program only covers damages and losses due to an uninsurable disaster. Refer to the Alberta Disaster Assistance Directives for eligible items and limitations, for disasters after April 1, 2025.
To qualify for financial assistance:
- an approved program for disaster financial assistance must be in place, confirmed through a signed ministerial order specifying the event and geographic area
- local authorities must have incurred disaster-related costs, including emergency operations and estimated recovery costs exceeding a financial threshold, adjusted annually for inflation using the Statistics Canada CPI, to be eligible for HARP:
- 2026 threshold is $255,250
- 2025 threshold was $250,000
- the disaster must have been caused by an eligible natural hazard, with a distinct disaster period and in a distinct geographic area
- a local authority applicant must apply and be approved under a HARP before individuals, small businesses and other public sector applicants can apply for assistance within the program
- applications must be submitted within 30 days of the disaster end date
- insurance must not have been adequate and available prior to the disaster – see the insurance and disasters page for more information
Before April 1, 2025
Disaster Recovery Programs prior to 2025:
- 2021 Alberta Homeowner, Tenant and Small Business Disaster Assistance Guidelines for eligible items and limitations for disaster events before April 1, 2021
- En Français Directives d’aide aux sinistrés du secteur prive de l’Alberta 2021
- 2021 Alberta Public Sector Disaster Assistance Guidelines for eligible items and limitations for disaster events before April 1, 2021
Disaster Recovery Programs are not accepting new applications. Visit Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program for more information.
Contact
Connect with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 1-888-671-1111
Email: [email protected]
By mail:
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
5th Floor, Terrace Building
9515 107 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2C1