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Goderich, Ontario tornado causes $75 million in insured damages


September 21, 2011   by Canadian Underwriter


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A tornado that struck Goderich, Ontario in August 2011 caused at least $75 million in insured damage, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, citing a preliminary estimate from Property Claim Services Canada (PCS-Canada).
Part of a storm front that spawned four tornadoes on Aug. 24, the F3 tornado that hit Goderich packed winds of approximately 300 mp-h. It destroyed several commercial and heritage buildings in the town’s centre, killing one and injuring 37 people.
“I was on the ground with IBC’s Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (CAMP), and I can say firsthand that the tornado’s destruction to property in Goderich was awful,” said Ralph Palumbo, IBC’s vice president of Ontario. “It’s devastating for those who have been affected.”
Palumbo added insurance companies were on the ground after the disaster to help affected residents and businesses. “Many insurance companies brought in extra staff to start issuing cheques to residents to cover their daily needs and to begin processing claims immediately. And the industry continues to help the community to recover.”
The Ontario government allocated $5 million to a disaster relief fund to aid in the cleanup in Goderich.
IBC notes Ontario has seen a handful of damaging tornados in the past few years.
A tornado that hit the Leamington area in June 2010 cost $120 million in insured damage, while another that hit the Vaughn area in August 2009 cost $88 million.


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