P&C industry responds, lends support following train disaster in Quebec

The property and casualty industry is lending its support to both search efforts and insurance claims handling following the oil train disaster in Lac-Mégantic, Que., which killed at least 20 people and left dozens still missing.

About 30 home and businesses were completely destroyed following the explosion last Saturday, according to Cunningham Lindsey. 

The firm has deployed adjusters from the Montreal Commercial Risk Division (CRD) in response to a number of significant commercial property and liability claims that have resulted from the disaster.

“As the investigation continues, access to the area has been highly restricted,” the firm said in a statement. “Our adjusters are at the scene assessing the damages and working with the provincial authorities who are in control of the site.”

EFI Global, the company’s forensic engineering, fire and environmental services subsidiary, is also on standby to deal with any environmental claims.

Crawford and Co. Canada  has also been in contact with its clients and has deployed staff from its Global Technical Services (GTS) group as an initial response to the disaster. It also has a team of adjusters standing by ready to assist when needed, it said in a statement.

Senior members of ClaimsPro’s Catastrophic Response Team are also on the ground working with local officials and residents to begin handling residential and commercial property claims, the company said. 

“We’ve made the decision to handle direct damage claims, rather than liability claims, so that we can focus our efforts and resources on helping the home and business owners in Lac Mégantic and avoid any conflicts of interest,” Suzie Godmer, ClaimsPro’s Vice President of Operations in Quebec, noted in a statement. 

“We’ve mobilized our resources and have full capacity to support our clients and the residents of this town,” added Godmer, who is coordinating ClaimsPro’s adjusting services for the catastrophe.

The firm has also deployed several of its major loss adjusters from its Quebec City and Sherbrooke branches to handle large commercial and personal lines property claims that have been assigned by well-known Quebec insurers.

ClaimsPro’s subrogation team and Special Risk Division (SRD) are also in place to provide support and expertise as well.

Intact Insurance also mobilized its community response teams following the explosion to help customers affected by the disaster.

The insurer has also set up a Community Response Centre in Lac-Mégantic to provide in-person contact and help customers with the claims process, provide emergency funding and arrange for temporary accommodation.

Scenes from Lac-Mégantic: As mayor seeks visitors, area’s beauty harsh contrast to horror of train explosion http://t.co/aUgZjlSyZ5

— National Post (@nationalpost) July 11, 2013

Intact has also donated $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Society to assist residents in the Lac-Mégantic area.

Industrial Alliance Insurance has also donated $50,000 to assist the people of Lac-Mégantic, and The Guarantee Company of North America has donated $10,000 to the same Canadian Red Cross  fund, handled by the Canadian Red Cross.

“The Guarantee is committed to getting our customers’ lives back in order as quickly and smoothly as possible,” Daniel Richard, vice president and regional general manager for Québec with the Guarantee noted in a statement.

“We are working with our broker partners and together we ensured adjusters are on site and meeting with impacted customers to get the claims process started immediately.” Daniel continued, “Our thoughts are with the individuals and families in Lac-Mégantic.”

Several life and health insurance companies in Canada have also donated funds to support the disaster victims and have set up community support in the area.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada has also deployed its Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion, which provides disaster victims with insurance-related information.

The Regroupement des cabinets de courtage d’assurance du Québec (RCCAQ), a professional association that represents 4,500 insurance brokers based in 615 brokerages and branch offices across the province, also released a statement saying its members are working with clients to deal with the disaster.

“In particular, the RCCAQ would like to acknowledge the efforts of everyone at FGL Assurances,” the statement said. “The firm has taken various special measures, including extending its business hours and taking on additional staff to assist clients affected by the incident.”

“It’s in situations like this that brokers have a chance to demonstrate their true value,” RCCAQ chair Michel Duciaume noted. “Thanks to their understanding and professionalism, they are in a position to provide moral support to clients who might otherwise feel unequipped to deal with the complexities of the insurance industry,” he said.

“Maintaining a local presence in all regions of Quebec enables brokerage firms to offer personalized service at all times following all types of incidents,” he added.