2005 flood damage results in record payout

The Alberta government says a record $162 million worth of damage claims were filed after last year's flooding in southern parts of the province.

The claims, filed by residents, business owners, farmers and First Nations, made the 2005 disaster recovery program the largest in the province's history.

• FROM JUNE 20, 2005: Floods keep thousands from their homes in southern Alberta

• PHOTO GALLERY: Alberta flooding

Jay O'Neill, spokesman for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, says the claims filed for provincial coverage do not include damage that was covered by insurance.

O'Neill says the government programs are in place to cover damage for which insurance is not readily available, such as overland flooding.

About half of the 12,000 claims filed in southern Alberta came from the city of Calgary.

Calgary residents and business owners received more than $14 million in compensation, but municipal damages are still being added up.

• INDEPTH: Flooding

• LINK: Ministry of Municipal Affairs: 2005 flooding overview

An additional 700 claims were filed from the Blood Reserve and 500 claims came from Lethbridge.