He said although that number represents approximately five per cent of Burlington homes, the impact of the people affected is significant.

What has been startling for the mayor as he visited properties across the city the past three days is the lack of insurance coverage.

“The vast majority of the people I’ve talked to did not have appropriate coverage,” he said. “It is not uncommon for people to have a coverage maximum of $5,000 or $10,000. When you have $100,000 of damage or $150,000 of damage, it does not go very far.”

Goldring had to pause briefly on Friday when overcome by emotion as he spoke of the community spirit that has prevailed in light of the devastation.

“What is inspiring, despite the fact people have been devastated, so many people are coming together and helping each other,” said Goldring as he wiped away tears.

The purpose of Friday’s press conference, held on a hard hit part of the city on Geneva Park Drive, was to announce a new fundraising initiative for flood relief through the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton.

“We’re hoping the broader community and Burlington, for sure, can step up and find it in their hearts and their abilities to give and to help us accomplish some of what we’d like to accomplish in bringing some much-needed resources to the people who need them,” said Jeff Vallentin, the new CEO of the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton.

Newalta, a Canadian company with a Burlington office, was the first to step up to the cause with a $10,000 donation.

While the details of how the money will be distributed have yet to be hammered out, Goldring did say insurers must pay first.

Receipts will also be required for any cleanup or repair costs. Essential items will be covered, such as washers, dryers and furnaces.

A disaster relief committee will likely be established to review applications.

Goldring also said the city will be looking to the province to match donations at a 2:1 ratio.

Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr said he hoped the initiative will raise a large amount of money.

“Our goal in all of this is to make sure we raise enough money so no one is hurt financially,” he said.

Carr said regional staff has visited an estimated 1,000 homes this week. They are hoping to reach the remainder next week.

He thanked the work emergency services did to help homeowners and drivers during and after the storm.

Aimee Thomas, who lives on Geneva Park Drive a few houses down from where the press conference was held, says the storm has caused approximately $100,000 damage to the home she shares with her husband and sons aged seven, four and one-and-a-half.

That number has not been confirmed as a representative of their insurance company has not come out yet to look at the damage.

Her house had a putrid smell coming from it on Friday as workers tore out wet drywall from her refinished basement, which served as a home daycare.

Outside, her lawn was littered with piles of furniture, toys and flooring waiting to be taken away.

Among their losses are a washer and dryer, furnace, freezer, fridge, 75 per cent of their children’s toys, camping gear and furniture. Even her wedding dress was ruined.

She said her family is not too proud to ask for help.

“We’re living in nightmare,” she said. “We’re a young family who is living off pretty much one income right now.”

Tempers also flared at Friday’s event, with some residents speaking out that something should have been done by the city and region to prevent flooding, especially for homeowners who have flooded several times this year alone. Some can no longer get insurance.

Eric Edge, a Stanley Drive resident, noted his home has flooded four times in a year and a half and he is not able to get insurance.

He wanted a guarantee the damage would be covered. He said the $1,000 offered by the region to residents who experienced sewage backup is an insult.

“We have no money to fix this,” said Edge. “…A thousand dollars doesn’t fix our basement.”

Meanwhile, the city has been speaking with the province, including with Premier Kathleen Wynne, about the possibility of applying for funding through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) to provide some financial help to those affected by the storm.

Goldring said he anticipates full council support for the formal request at a special meeting next Thursday.

Eleanor McMahon, Burlington’s new MPP, said she will do everything she can at Queen’s Park to secure any available financial assistance.

“The ODRAP program and the decisions in it are made on the basis of the impact on people’s lives and I think, as we’ve seen, those are significant,” she said. “… I can tell you having spoken to Minister (Ted) McMeekin and having told him what I’ve seen, I’m hopeful that if there’s a way the province can help that deals within the parameters of the ODRAP that they will.”

McMahon also made a plea to the insurance industry for compassion.

“I would ask the industry to address the situation here in Burlington with a level of urgency, with compassion, humanitarianism and sensitivity because people’s lives have, through no fault of their own, been forever and irrevocably impacted,” she said. “We need to you to listen, we need you to respond and we need you to help them.”

The Burlington Flood Relief page is available on the United Way’s website at http://www.uwaybh.ca.

Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can do so online, by calling 905-635-3138, emailing uway@uwaybh.ca or by visiting in person at 3425 Harvester Rd., Unit 107.

For city and region updates and information on the flood, visit http://bit.ly/1lHOBxA.

Previously unreported home flood damage from Monday’s storm should be reported by calling 311.