Families devastated by flooding in Brechin during Storm Babet will be given lifeline funding of up to £1,500, The Courier can reveal.
Angus residents who saw their homes engulfed by floodwaters will be eligible for emergency support.
Hundreds of households in Brechin were forced to evacuate four weeks ago when the unprecedented storm hit the north-east hardest.
Business owners in the region who have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the chaos will be eligible for grants of up to £3,000.
Four weeks of waiting
Earlier this week, SNP ministers were told to hurry up and get support to communities in need nearly four weeks after the storm.
Families who remain in temporary accommodation face an anxious wait to discover when they can return to their homes by Christmas.
Meanwhile, business owners repeatedly warned they need help from ministers almost a month after the devastation.
On Sunday, we revealed a ministerial taskforce set up to tackle the crisis was yet to meet and no additional cash for those left in the lurch had been identified.
That’s despite First Minister Humza Yousaf visiting Brechin in the immediate aftermath of the storm and promising locals he would help.
Flood taskforce meets today
The taskforce set up to coordinate the government’s response was finally set to gather on Thursday as action is taken.
Residents from seven local authorities in total, including Perth and Kinross, have told the Scottish Government they may make claims.
It’s understood the money will be given to council chiefs, who will then be responsible for distributing it to those in need.
Business chiefs wanting cash will need to prove their ability to trade was impacted the storm.
Brechin Castle Centre, a major tourist draw in Angus, claims to have lost out on £150,000 in revenue as a result of disruption.
Families who remain in temporary accommodation after their homes were ruined during the storm will then be able to make a claim.
It’s not yet known how much the lifeline cash will cost the government in total, but ministers are believed to be treating the crisis as a “priority”.
Not all households and businesses will necessarily receive the maximum grants available, depending on their individual circumstances.
Senior SNP minister Mairi McAllan said: “We have been working with local authorities and those directly affected by the severe impact of Storm Babet to determine where the Scottish Government can provide additional support to local partners.
“Given the unprecedented scale of damage and impact caused by Storm Babet we have concluded that additional funding is required to support households and businesses.”
Conversation