Hamilton city council last week approved the Residential Municipal Disaster Relief Assistance Program, which will reimburse homeowners $750 for any type of residential basement flooding related to a rain event during the specified time period.

The compassionate grant program is being administered for the city by Cunningham Lindsey Claims Services Canada Ltd., which has set up a grant hotline at 905-667-3157. All inquiries regarding the grant program should be referred to this number.

The deadline for submitting an application for the relief program is December 11, 2008.

According to the city, the grant program is based on compassionate grounds and is not to be considered an admission of liability on the part of the city.

Any inquiries regarding the submission of a liability claim against the City of Hamilton should be directed to the city's Risk Management Services department, at 905-546-2424 ext. 5472.