Windstorm wreaks havoc on Southern Alberta

A powerful windstorm blew through Southern Alberta on Nov. 27, forcing the evacuation of Calgary’s downtown core and fuelling a grass fire in Lethbridge.
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) issued a release informing consumers about what they need to know if their property was affected.
“First and foremost, those affected should ensure they and their families are safe,” said Doug Noble, IBC’s vice president for the Alberta region.
“The good news is that most wind damage should be covered by insurance,” he said. “Consumers whose property was affected by the storm should contact their insurance representative as soon as possible to start the claims process.”
A strong low-pressure system, combined with a Chinook blowing east from the mountains, producing sustained 77 km-h winds. Some gusts in Claresholm reached 144 km-h, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane, cbc.ca reported.
In Calgary, winds reached 91 km-h on Sunday, downing trees, blowing out windows of office towers and snarling the city’s LRT system. The city’s emergency management department closed off the downtown core as a result, cbc.ca added.
In Lethbridge, more than 100 people were evacuated from their homes because of a grass fire fuelled by the winds, the Toronto Star reported.
Firefighters in Lethbridge also battled a blaze at an industrial building where the structure’s roof had blown off.
According to Environment Canada, in rural areas, where there was nothing to block the wind, gusts reached upwards of 100 km-h.
Crawford & Company (Canada) issued a release saying its adjusters and national CAT team are on the ground in the area, ready for the influx of claims.