Prince George, B.C. - Prince George City Hall says it is an absolute coincidence that the local state of emergency is being lifted just as costs reach the threshold.

The Provincial Emergency Program ceiling for cost reimbursement is $4.4 million dollars. The Prince George bill submitted to the Province for reimbursement is $4.3 million. The local state of emergency will be allowed to run out Thursday at 1:00.

The threshold for funding is not a factor says City Clerk and Information officer Don Schaffer “The local state of emergency is being allowed to lapse because all the experts are telling us the emergency is over, the river levels are normal, and there is no threat of flooding.”

Schaffer says it is purely coincidental that the bill to deal with the flood is approaching the maximum at the same time the declaration will be lifted.

Schaffer says yes, if there was a new flood next week, that would be classed as a new incident and the mitigation dollars would start at zero all over again “We wouldn’t be allowing the declaration to lapse if we thought there was any possibility of that happening” says Schaffer.