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basement flooding

News Insurance

Why insurers cross their fingers after microburst storms in Toronto

July 15, 2020 by Adam Malik

Old infrastructure and combined sewer systems mean that severe thunderstorms like the one seen last week will continue to leave basements flooded for years to come, leaving insurers and claims professionals busy, according to an industry expert. “When you get

News Insurance

Flash storm hits same areas of Toronto as in 2013 Cat event. Was the damage the same?

July 9, 2020 by Adam Malik

Toronto is drying out from another sudden thunderstorm, but claims professionals may have dodged an even bigger workload thanks to the storm quickly moving out. “We’ve seen worse,” Glenn McGillivray, managing director at the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR),

News RiskTechnology

How this city made basement flooding risk predictions more precise

October 17, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

Brokers wanting to find out how likely their client’s basement will be flooded might want to ask whether the insurance companies are using data from the municipality in their flood maps. “A lot of residents have indicated concerns with purchasing

News AdjustersBrokersClaimsClimate ChangeInsurance

How brokers can stop a flooded basement

April 16, 2019 by David Gambrill

A recent study suggests brokers have a golden opportunity to talk to homeowners one-on-one about how to protect homes from basement floods. With the right information and often for less than $500, homeowners can protect themselves from the increasing risks

News InsuranceLegal

How basement flooding devalued this property

September 17, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Recurring basement flooding means a homeowner’s property is worth about $35,000 less than it would otherwise be valued at for tax purposes, says an official from the board that hears Ontario property tax appeals. Sharon Latta owns a home near

News ClaimsClimate ChangeInsurance

Top 3 measures to mitigate home flood risk

September 7, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Your book of business could have lower water losses if you give homeowner clients just three pieces of advice. First, homeowners should figure out whether their home actually has a backwater valve, said Cheryl Evans, director of the home flood

News CatastrophesClaims

Toronto’s density, old sewer system lead to flooding, observers say

August 22, 2018 Gabriele Roy - THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO – Steady rain and thunderstorm warnings in Toronto on Tuesday had residents bracing for waterlogged streets and transit delays for the third time in as many weeks, with the city saying it was prepared to respond quickly to urgent

News Insurance

How to advise your clients on backwater valves

July 12, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

It’s all well and fine if your homeowner clients have backwater valves, but are they alarmed? An alarm that tells occupants that a backwater valve has been activated “can be a very simple way to let people know if the

News CatastrophesClaimsInsurance

Why this city is billed as “progressive” in reducing flood risk

July 8, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Toronto is one of the most progressive cities in taking steps to reduce basement flood risk, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR)  director of research Dan Sandink said Thursday in an interview. And a ban on below-grade garages is Exhibit A

News CatastrophesClaims

One risk to your client if the neighbouring property is abandoned

June 18, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Lindsay Bunce got a nasty shock one colder winter day when she and her husband went down to the basement of their Toronto home. “We were surprised to find about two inches of water across our basement and water coming

News BrokersCatastrophes

New basement flood awareness training for home insurance brokers

June 14, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

A course on basement flooding risk will likely be available to Canadian property and casualty insurance brokers within the next year, Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, told Canadian Underwriter Monday. The Intact Centre also plans

News Insurance

The $50 plumbing part that could help prevent a flooded basement

March 14, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate Editor

Looking to advise homeowners on ways to reduce basement flood risk? Consider reminding consumers to shut off the water flowing to the garden hose in winter. FirstOnSite Restoration sees a lot of incidents where homeowners forget to shut off the