Ottawa is offering disaster financial aid to Canada's storm-battered Maritimes provinces, which have incurred millions of dollars in damage due to weeks of relentless severe weather.
Federal assistance is available to the provincial governments of the Atlantic provinces, where early estimates peg the damage at $50 million, if they ask for help.
"Our government is committed to helping provinces in their efforts to respond to and recover from the damage and destruction caused by recent storms, and to ensure that communities are able to begin the process of rebuilding," Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said in a statement.
The federal government is already sending teams to New Brunswick, which requested help from experts in electrical and health inspection and environmental and structural engineering.
Torrential rains and hurricane-force winds are blamed for widespread property damage in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where a provincial aid package is available to cover flood-related damage.
Storms have battered the region for more than two weeks. Some areas received more than 100 millimetres of rain in days.
Swollen streams have flooded land and homes, and washed out roads and bridges. Hundreds of buildings are in need of repairs.
Property owners and governments are cleaning up.
Bad weather is still causing problems in Newfoundland, where much of its east coast is under storm surge, rainfall and/or wind warnings because of a stalled low-pressure system Friday. More rain is expected in the coming week.
Environment Canada said an additional 20 to 30 mm of rain was expected by Saturday morning in areas already reeling from more than 100 mm of rain. Meanwhile The Labrador Coast was also expected to see 10 centimetres of snow overnight Friday, with another 5-10 cm falling on Saturday.
Minor flooding is expected in some coastal areas due to large waves, pounding surf and high water levels.
Newfoundland residents are comparing the wind damage caused by this storm to that inflicted by Hurricane Igor three months ago.
Powerful winds shut down ferry service to and from Newfoundland for about four days. Service resumed Thursday, allowing anxious travelers to return home in time for Christmas.
In Nova Scotia, potential wind gusts of 90 km/h resulted in a wind warning for the rain-soaked Cape Breton area Friday.
Nova Scotia's government said storm surges and local flooding will continue in coastal areas along the Northumberland Strait and Cape Breton on Friday.
With a report from NTV News
