Some good news for places like Portage, that look after people stranded by blizzards.

The province has changed the Disaster Financial Assistance Program to allow for reimbursement.

Association of Manitoba Municipalities Executive Director Joe Masi notes it's something they've worked toward for some time because blizzards weren't an eligible item under the program. Floods and fires were some of the disasters the program recognized.

Masi says the process to get this change took several years, because the government was concerned about possible abuse.

He adds reimbursement could range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on circumstances.