DUNCAN - Cowichan Valley residents forced out of their homes early Friday by flooding were allowed to return Saturday but it will likely be weeks before they can hope to get any money to cover the damage.

That was the main concern for about 150 people who turned up for a community meeting at Island Savings Centre, along with where they’re going to live for up to six months while their homes are being repaired.

While some spent the last two nights with friends or family, others booked into area hotels. Only two people slept on cots at the community centre.

Frustration at the meeting was palpable.

“People are not pleased with the process,” said North Cowichan resident Kate McCabe, who considers herself fortunate. Flood waters filled the crawl space beneath her Heather Street home, but did not breach the main living quarters.

Her garage, however, was a different story. It was filled with possessions, since she moved in three months ago and hadn’t finished unpacking. McCabe estimated her flood losses would be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

“We just can’t even guess,” she said, noting some items — including three boxes of artwork by family members — are irreplaceable.

McCabe and her family are staying in a hotel, but hope they might be able to return to their home once an electrician inspects it.

Flood victims in Cowichan, Nanaimo and Comox, which flooded earlier in the week, are eligible for coverage of up to 80 per cent of claims exceeding $1,000 for essential structural damage and content replacement. Overland flood insurance is not available in B.C.

Staff from the provincial emergency program will be in Duncan Sunday to explain how the program works and help affected residents begin filling out applications.

“We need to get on with trying to get these folks back in their homes,” said Jim Price, a senior regional manager with the emergency program.

After receiving applications from homeowners, tenants or small-business operators, provincial evaluators will assess the damage and, if applicable, recommend aid.

“It’s more of a helping hand than it is insurance,” said Teresa Ferguson of Emergency Management B.C., adding it will take at least a month before cheques roll.

Terry Durant of Textura Restoration Services in Duncan said he’s putting extra crews together to begin remediation work as early as Sunday, but he’s waiting to hear what, exactly, insurance companies and the province will be covering.

Water-damaged material, including drywall, framing, flooring and insulation, will be pulled out of homes first and the spaces will have to dry before rebuilding can begin.

Durant said work could cost anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000, but noted average water damage jobs are in the $6,000-to-$8,000 range.

Rain had begun falling again by mid-afternoon Saturday and the region is expected to receive up to 30 millimetres by Sunday.

The province’s environment ministry downgraded the flood threat on the Cowichan River Saturday to a “high stream advisory” as opposed to the earlier “flood watch” and “flood warning” advisories.

The Ministry of Public Safety sent another 5,000 sandbags to Duncan to protect against further flooding, said Solicitor General Kash Heed, who surveyed the affected area by helicopter Saturday.

North Cowichan Mayor Tom Walker said it was too early to say how much the flood was going to cost the municipality, but added financial relief from the province is also available to local governments.

“We’re doing what we have to,” he said. “We’re going to sort out the dollars afterwards.”

mpearson@tc.canwest.com