Ramara Township is ready to ask the province for help.

Ramara Fire Chief Dave McCarthy asked councillors last night to approve a request to the province to have the Black and Head River watersheds declared disaster areas.

There’s a tight deadline for residents, however. Anyone affected by the flooding has to contact the town by noon Wednesday to give an estimate of the cost of the damage.

It rained most of the day in Ramara, and that’s not what people need. Water levels are still high along the Black River and in the Lake St. John area.

“The water is moving the way it should. But the rain is not good for people dealing with high water levels,” says McCarthy.

The township will ask the province for financial help again. Last year residents qualified for less than $40,000 collectively. And residents looking for help must contact the town with a damage estimate by noon tomorrow.

“We need the name of the property owners affected by the flooding and an estimated cost of damage to their home this year by noon tomorrow,” he says. “It’s my understanding the … needs the information as quickly as we can get it to them.”

The province will not cover everything, however. Second homes or cottages aren’t covered. Stereos, boats, and snowmobiles are also not covered, among other things.

Click here for a list of eligible costs.

This year’s flooding isn't as widespread as last year but town officials say in many cases it is worse.

“They knew that it was a flood area but they never expected that the water would come up seven feet,” says Ramara Mayor Bill Duffy.

Many homes are still surrounded by water, and many sump pumps still spitting out water around the clock. For some people, boats are still the preferred way to get around – in many cases the only way.

Vic England says people will “get tired of it after a while” and says he expects “some people will move I would imagine.”

Wells are also a concern. Many are underwater and will have to be cleaned out. Septic systems are also an issue. And residents are being encouraged to boil their water until further notice.

At the peak of the flooding about 175 properties throughout the township were affected.

The town will have to match any funding provided by the Ontario Disaster Assistance Relief Program.