Claims adjusters, cat response teams act following Toronto-area flooding

Several independent claims adjusting firms are at the ready following the major rainfall and flooding that hit the Greater Toronto Area and other parts of southern Ontario on Monday.

Granite Claims Solutions’ four offices in the GTA (in South Mississauga, North Mississauga, Markham, and downtown Toronto) are fully-staffed with adjusters prepared to handle water damage and infrastructure claims, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

Its Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Newmarket, Barrie, Peterborough, and Ajax branches also have been placed on standby.

“With the flooding events in Calgary, and the current situation in Toronto, many insurers will be pressed for resources at this time,” noted Greig Boyle, Granite’s executive vice president of national operations.

“With this is mind, we would like to reassure our clients that we have the resources and capacity in the GTA to be of assistance,” he said. “I have been and continue to be in constant contact with our property leaders and GTA branch managers, and we are well-prepared.”

90mm fell in 2 hours at #YYZ Toronto Pearson. The average July monthly rainfall is 75mm and the daily record was 29mm. #toflood #record

— Anthony Farnell (@AnthonyFarnell) July 8, 2013

The company’s call centre based out of its Toronto West office, which operates 24/7, was unaffected by the storm, and is currently online and handling claims intake, its statement added.

ClaimsPro has also assembled its emergency response teams to handle any influx of claims coming from the GTA, it said Tuesday.

“Our CAT response teams have been mobilized to assist our clients with the high volumes of claims,” noted Dan Buch, ClaimsPro’s vice president for eastern Ontario. “We are here to support our clients and their customers with emergency claims services.”

Mississauga-based Cunningham Lindsey also said Tuesday it has adjusters on site in flood-affected areas and is responding to auto and property claims throughout the GTA.

“We are well equipped to respond swiftly to storm-related claims and provide our clients with immediate resources and assistance,” said Michael Morris, the company’s vice president of national operations. “Adjusters from other areas of the province have also been contacted to assist with the volume of claims.”

Toronto Hydro ‘at capacity,’ starts rolling blackouts . Utility still recovering from Monday night’s storm #toflood

— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) July 9, 2013

The firm’s 24-hour call centre has a catastrophe plan in effect and has been responding to claims and dispatching adjusters, it added.

Cunningham’s forensic engineering, fire and environmental services subsidiary, EFI Global, is also on standby for any environmental claims, the company said. EFI’s emergency response team is on call 24 hours a day.

Crawford and Company Canada also has adjusters in the GTA, along with members of its national CAT team and Global Technical Services group, which have already begun handling losses, it said Tuesday.

“Our adjusters have the experience needed to act quickly during times such as these,” said Pat Van Bakel, CEO of Crawford Canada. “Our contact centre has also begun to receive calls and we are well positioned to deliver the necessary services to affected areas.”