Topic Catastrophes
Opinion: Climate change isn’t pausing for the pandemic
May 7, 2020 by Dr. Janis Sarra, Professor of Law, University of British ColumbiaAs the insurance sector adjusts to respond to challenges related to the novel coronavirus, flood season in Canada is beginning. Today, residents in Fort McMurray, Alta., are returning to clean up their flooded homes and businesses on the anniversary of…
Dozens more die of COVID in Canada; Greyhound to shut down all service
May 7, 2020 by Colin Perkel - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Dozens more people in Canada have succumbed to COVID-19, authorities reported on Thursday, as one of the country’s major inter-city bus carriers announced it would be shutting down completely due to a precipitous drop in passengers forced by…
Federal scientists predict high wildfire risk across Western Canada
May 6, 2020 by Bob Weber - THE CANADIAN PRESSEDMONTON – A majority of forests in Canada face a higher-than-normal wildfire risk this summer, say federal scientists. The forecast map from Natural Resources Canada suggests every region west of central Quebec will face an above-average hazard. “We’re starting to…
How this reinsurer views property risk in Fort McMurray
May 4, 2020 by Greg MeckbachSome properties affected by the current flooding in Fort McMurray, Alberta, were also affected by the massive wildfire in 2016 but despite the multiple tragedies, the properties are still considered insurable. “Property in the town of Fort McMurray, Alberta is…
Report recommends measures to avoid repeat of flooding in Quebec community
May 4, 2020 by Stephanie Marin- THE CANADIAN PRESSMONTREAL – A report into the rupture of a dike in Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que., during spring flooding last year suggests several problems including a lack of awareness among the population about the associated risks of living in the area. The report…
Ice jam that caused flooding, evacuation in Fort McMurray melting
April 30, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – An ice jam on the Athabasca River is nearly half the size it was earlier this week when it caused major flooding in Fort McMurray and forced 13,000 people from their homes. The Regional Municipality of…
Chief medical health officer eases COVID rules in Alberta flood areas: premier
April 29, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Premier Jason Kenney says the province’s chief medical officer of health is relaxing some COVID-19 restrictions for people who are dealing with flooding in northern Alberta. Kenney says in a tweet sent out late Tuesday that…
How brokers can protect themselves from lawsuits during COVID-19
April 28, 2020 by David GambrillBroker advice and advocacy are shining brilliantly during the days of the global pandemic, with insurer products, coverage options and consumer relief packages in a constant state of flux. Many in the P&C industry have noted that broker value has…
Flooding in Fort McMurray leads to request for military assistance from Ottawa
April 27, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Flooding in northern Alberta has led to mandatory evacuations in Fort McMurray and a request to the federal government for military assistance. “We have requested assistance from the federal government as we face this new crisis,”…
New evacuation order in B.C. as flooding affects central Interior
April 24, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – A flood warning has been issued for a river near Prince George, British Columbia, after it rose nearly 35 centimetres in a day. The B.C. River Forecast Centre, which assesses water supply, flood risk and predicts flows in…
The “dark side” of working from home: How to avoid an isolated workforce
April 21, 2020 by David GambrillBefore COVID-19, there was a lively debate within the Canadian P&C industry about the virtues and pitfalls of working from home, featuring the industry’s skeptics (a.k.a. the “Boomers”) and proponents (the “Millennials”). Well, guess what? The pandemic has made us…
Predicting possible outcomes to coronavirus and other pandemics with models and simulations
April 20, 2020 by Gabriel Wainer, Professor, Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University - THE CANADIAN PRESSThis article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site Lately, our daily lives include reading complex news items with analysis…