Topic Catastrophes
Ontario adds $20.5 million in funding to fight wildfires, including for training and drones
October 12, 2023 by The Canadian PressTIMMINS, Ont. – Ontario’s natural resources and forestry minister says the government will spend an additional $20.5 million over three years to help fight wildfires. Graydon Smith, making an announcement in Timmins, Ont., says this recent fire season has been…
How to mobilize claims repairs in a flood-prone city
October 5, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoHow do you mobilize a claims response when capacity and labour shortage issues are extending property restoration timelines in disaster-prone regions? Bring your recovery team closer to the repairs. At least, that’s the strategy First Onsite is taking. The restoration…
How much B.C.’s catastrophic wildfires will cost insurers
October 4, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoB.C.’s summer wildfires clocked in as the costliest insured event ever recorded in the province, and the tenth costliest insured event in Canada’s history, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said. Wildfires in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions of B.C. will…
B.C. disaster response outdated and inaccessible for evacuees: ombudsperson
October 4, 2023 by Brieanna Charlebois - THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Emergency support programs for disaster evacuees in British Columbia are outdated, under-resourced, inaccessible and poorly communicated, according to a report by the province’s ombudsperson. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke’s report on the government’s response to wildfires and severe flooding in…
NDP introduces disaster management bill as B.C. legislature opens
October 3, 2023 by The Canadian PressVICTORIA – New disaster management legislation has been introduced in British Columbia on the first day of the fall legislative session that will see four official parties in the chamber. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said Tuesday the legislation will…
Weather-related home repairs highest in Atlantic Canada: HomeStars survey
September 26, 2023 by The Canadian PressTORONTO – Homeowners in Atlantic Canada completed the highest number of emergency repairs due to weather-related events in the past year, according to HomeStars’ latest renovation report. One-third of homeowners across Canada who renovated or repaired their properties in the…
Where 2023 Cat losses stand after summer storms
September 20, 2023 by David GambrillSummer storms in Alberta and the Prairies caused more than $300 million in insured losses, bringing the cumulative total of Cat losses to date in Canada to more than $2 billion — with another financial quarter to go in 2023.…
What’s driving challenges in commercial property?
September 19, 2023 by Jason ContantChallenges in the Canadian commercial property insurance market continue to be a focal point throughout 2023, primarily driven by NatCat concerns and reinsurance costs, Aon said in its Fall 2023 Insurance Market Update Canada report. “The property market continues to…
Will Hurricane Lee cost as much as Fiona?
September 18, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoDamage stemming from Hurricane Lee won’t be as major as last September’s Hurricane Fiona, insurance experts tell Canadian Underwriter. “At more than $800 million in insured damage, Hurricane Fiona goes down as the costliest natural hazard-related insured loss event…
Climate change not the leading cause of NatCat losses: Verisk
September 15, 2023 by David GambrillAlthough climate change is frequently cited as the Number 1 reason for higher natural catastrophes (NatCat) losses, increases in property exposure and repair costs are more significant short-term factors, according to a new report by Verisk Analytics. “Climate change is…
Lee update: Where the damage is likely to happen
September 14, 2023 by David GambrillNew Brunswick and Nova Scotia are bracing for flooding and high winds as Hurricane Lee approaches landfall in Atlantic Canada as a Category 1 storm. Currently showing wind speeds of 155 km/h, Lee is expected to become a strong tropical…
Province aware of dike problems before destructive flooding in 2021, documents show
September 13, 2023 by Brenna Owen - THE CANADIAN PRESSOfficials with the British Columbia government and the City of Merritt were aware of significant problems with dikes for several years before a series of atmospheric rivers flooded the community, documents released through a freedom of information request show. The…