Don’t count on Canada-wide, high-resolution flood modelling anytime soon
October 10, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFlood maps with a resolution of two metres would be ideal, but don’t expect anything like this Canada-wide anytime soon. The current standard for the spacing of a topographic grid for regional mapping and modelling is 30 metres, as the…
Calgary flood protection project faces opposition
September 24, 2019 Bill Graveland - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – Alberta’s premier says it’s possible a proposed reservoir to protect Calgary from floods will have to go back to the drawing board if federal regulators say no or court delays persist. Opponents of the dry reservoir at Springback,…
Engineering study wanted for Atlantic Canada sea level rise mitigation
July 26, 2019 Michael Tutton - THE CANADIAN PRESSHALIFAX – A long-awaited process is underway to find ways to protect a narrow and vital corridor of land between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia from floods caused by sea level rise and storm surges. The request for proposals issued…
Toronto motorists rescued from flooded vehicles
July 17, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Officials are warning drivers in the Toronto area to be careful after a morning of heavy rain led to flash flooding in some areas on Wednesday. Provincial police spokesman Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says some drivers have had to…
How buyouts of flood-prone properties are going in this community
July 8, 2019 Amy Smart - THE CANADIAN PRESSMore than one year after rescuers swam from home to home in a low-income neighbourhood devastated by flooding in Grand Forks, B.C., some residents say they were rattled to learn the property buyouts they’ve been waiting for will be based…
How this year’s CAT losses are trending
July 3, 2019 by Adam MalikCanada is well on its way to cracking the $1-billion threshold in insured catastrophe losses yet again as we enter the second half of 2019. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification (CatIQ) told Canadian Underwriter Wednesday that the estimated catastrophic insured loss…
New money aims to help municipalities boost flood resilience
June 27, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSBRACEBRIDGE, Ont. – Ontario is launching a $1-million pilot project to help communities protect against effects of extreme weather after several in central and eastern parts of the province saw flooding this spring. The government has already activated a disaster…
Waist-deep flooding hits this prairie city
June 19, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSSWIFT CURRENT, Sask. – People in a small southwestern Saskatchewan city are cleaning up after a sudden dump of rain caused parts of the downtown to be flooded. It’s been dry in Swift Current for months, but that all changed…
This social media risk lacks a mainstream insurance product
June 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWant to place insurance that covers a client whose revenue suddenly plummets because of a disinformation campaign? This might be easier said than done, but one commercial insurer with a Canadian branch is hoping to change this. Right now, there…
Spring flooding not sinking cottage markets in Ontario, Quebec: report
June 7, 2019 Ross Marowits - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Spring flooding has failed to sink Ontario and Quebec’s cottage real estate markets, according to Royal LePage’s annual recreational property report. Parts of Quebec cottage country were inaccessible for weeks because of road closures and some Ontario properties…
Welcome to the new era of online flood maps
June 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe organization responsible for flood risk mitigation in and near Kitchener, Ont. is contemplating enabling online access to maps that would let some clients see whether they are in a high-risk flood zone. For the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA),…
Ottawa’s spring floods put last round of repairs to the test
June 6, 2019 Christian Paas-Lang - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – A new round of repairs is in store for pathways around Parliament Hill, after the second major flood in three years. Water levels on the Ottawa River remain a metre above normal and crews working for the National…