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Part of Disaster financial assistance and recovery support

Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program

The program provides financial assistance for uninsurable loss and damage caused by disasters.

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Disaster financial assistance and recovery support

Overview

The Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program (HARP) replaces Alberta’s former disaster assistance programs — the Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) and the Municipal Wildfire Assistance Program (MWAP).

The HARP does not cover costs, damage or losses that could have been covered by insurance. A local authority must first apply to the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) for a HARP and if approved, individuals and small businesses and other public sector applicants may apply for assistance within the program. 

Approved HARP programs for 2025

Hazard Assistance and Resilience Programs (HARPs) approved for 2025 are: 

  • 2025 Alberta Early Spring Wildfires HARP for Athabasca County, Sturgeon County, MD of Bonnyville and Westlock County 
  • 2025 Alberta Late Spring Wildfires HARP for Town of Swan Hills and the Municipal District of Opportunity
  • 2025 County of Grande Prairie Wildfire HARP
  • 2025 Rocky View County Flood HARP

The program approval date for these programs is February 17, 2026 and approved local authorities have been notified. 

Private sector applications for damage and loss under the Rocky View County HARP must be submitted within 90 days of the program approval date, which is May 19, 2026. Contact your local authority for more information and assistance in accessing an approved HARP.

Cost sharing

The HARP includes a cost-sharing arrangement with local authorities (municipalities, Métis Settlements and irrigation districts) under which the Alberta government will provide assistance for 90% of eligible disaster costs and the remaining 10% is the responsibility of the applicant. 

For individuals and small businesses who own their principal residence or small business location, a tiered cost-share arrangement applies. For further details, please refer to the private sector funding limits.

Eligibility and funding

How to qualify for a HARP

Local authorities are eligible to apply for the approval of a program after a disaster in their jurisdiction. To qualify: 

  • Minimum disaster-related costs

    The local authority must have incurred costs from a disaster, including emergency operations costs and estimated recovery costs exceeding $250,000, adjusted for inflation yearly. 

  • Eligible disaster type and location

    The disaster must have been caused by an eligible natural hazard, with a distinct disaster period and in a distinct geographic area. 

  • Apply within 30 days

    Applications for financial assistance must be submitted to AEMA within 30 days of the disaster end date outlined in the program Ministerial Order (MO). 

Eligible applicants under a HARP 

If approved, a local authority will be eligible to receive HARP funding. A state of local emergency does not have to be in place to qualify for a HARP. 

Once a HARP is in place, individuals, small businesses and other public sector applicants can apply to help restore damaged assets to a basic and essential functional condition. Only apply if your local authority has been approved for a HARP and has provided notice of eligible assistance, including application timelines.

  • Eligible public sector applicants

    Eligible public sector applicants are:

    • local authorities
    • Government of Alberta departments
    • irrigation districts identified within the Irrigation Districts Act
    • AEMA-approved public authorities

  • Eligible private sector applicants

    Eligible private sector applicants are:

    • Individuals:
      • residential homeowners
      • residential tenants
      • individuals in a provisional state of housing
    • Small businesses:
      • any form of business, for example, sole proprietorships, limited corporations, partnerships, etc.
      • agriculture operations
      • landlords
      • non-profits
      • registered charities
      • religious institutions
      • cooperatives

    For information on Disaster Recovery Programs prior to 2025, please refer to Disaster financial assistance and recovery support.

How HARP works

HARP follows a structured process that begins with program application and ends with a determination of financial assistance.

Process for HARP - step 1) applying - step 2) Minister approval - step 3) - residents have 90 days to apply - step 4) evaluation leads to financial assistance

*Note: approval for the establishment of a HARP may take several months. Local authorities will be notified in writing by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services upon approval.

Read Alberta Disaster Assistance Directives for eligible items and limitations for disasters after April 1, 2025.

How to apply

Application requirements for HARP assistance vary by applicant type.

  • Local authorities

    AEMA will provide application forms to affected local authorities for the submission of timely and accurate information about the damage in their area.

  • Government of Alberta ministries

    Government of Alberta ministries submit applications to Government of Alberta Recovery Initiatives by email at [email protected].

  • Private sector applicants

    If applicable to the approved program, the application period for private sector applicants is 90 days from the program approval date stated in the MO.

Application forms and online access

Applicants may choose to apply online. An application form will be available for those who are unable or prefer not to apply online.

Updated application forms and online access will be available soon. In the meantime, please contact [email protected] for assistance.

Private sector funding limits

The HARP follows a tiered cost-sharing model for individuals and small businesses who own (by title) their physical properties, where the cost-share applied by the Government of Alberta varies based on the number of times the HARP is accessed. A property address is eligible for up to a maximum of 3 HARP applications. 

The tiered cost-sharing model 

The tiered model is as follows:

  • First-time applicants

    • 90:10 cost-sharing for first-time applicants. The applicant must complete mitigation measures that are approved by the AEMA, depending on the event, to be considered eligible for future financial assistance under HARP.

  • Second-time applicants

    • 70:30 cost-sharing for second-time applicants who have completed mitigation outlined after their first application.

  • Third-time applicants

    • 50:50 cost-sharing for third-time applicants who have completed mitigation measures outlined after their second application.

  • Fourth-time applicants

    • No HARP funding for a fourth HARP application at the same physical property address, regardless of transfer of ownership.

Maximum financial assistance

The maximum assistance for homeowners and tenants is the lesser of:

  • total replacement costs
  • total cost of repairs to pre-disaster, basic and essential functional condition
  • property tax assessment value of the building only (excludes land value) of the year immediately prior to the disaster or
  • $500,000 adjusted for inflation yearly
    • this limit includes clean-up, replacement of lost or damaged contents, repairs, evacuation assistance and mitigation requirements set out in the HARP 
    • the maximum is not cumulative and applies each time an applicant qualifies into a HARP

See the HARP property search to see if your property has received assistance since 2021.

Contact Indigenous Services Canada for information on properties on First Nations reserves.

Insurance responsibility

Each person bears responsibility for protecting their personal property or business/agricultural operation. Insurance is a well-known form of risk transfer, where coverage of a risk is obtained from an insurer in exchange for ongoing premiums paid to the insurer. When someone has chosen not to insure their property when insurance was available, this is choosing to self-insure, so they bear the risk if a disaster happens.

The HARP does not cover costs for losses or damages to property that could have been insured. The HARP only covers damage, loss and costs caused by disasters that are considered uninsurable. See what hazards and perils are covered by insurance.

Resources

Alberta Disaster Assistance Directives

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]

Contacts for local authorities

For questions about applications, local authorities can contact AEMA recovery coordinators, AEMA field officers, or WUI field officers.

Previous HARP property search