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…
How budget cuts will affect flood risk mitigation
June 5, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFlood risk mitigation in Ontario could start to depend a lot more on the willingness of corporations and individuals to donate money to the conservation authorities. “The conservation authorities are going to have to make a better case for outreach…
Brokers concerned about blanket approach to binding authority restrictions
May 31, 2019 by Jason ContantWith wildfires raging in northern Alberta and Ontario, brokers are reporting some funky outcomes associated with insurers’ binding authority restrictions. Under the restrictions, brokers cannot bind coverage in areas under civil authority, forest fire alerts, flood alerts and certain earthquake…
Guess who’s in the flood prevention business now
May 30, 2019 by David GambrillWe’ve seen forensic engineering firms apply remediation methods to commercial and residential properties that were affected by flood damage. But now, as flooding has become more severe, they are in the vanguard of building comprehensive and tailored flood prevention and…
Where wildfire and flood risk is higher this summer
May 27, 2019 David Friend - THE CANADIAN PRESSThe weather this summer could be starkly different across the country, according to the latest long range forecast from The Weather Network. Chief meteorologist Chris Scott predicts the wet weather that Ontario and Quebec have experienced in May will continue…
This restoration contracting acquisition should close by summer
May 24, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFirstOnSite and Paul Davis will have the same corporate owner if a deal announced Thursday goes through but will operate separately from one another. FirstOnSite Restoration Limited announced May 23 that its corporate parent, Global Restoration Holdings LLC, agreed to…
Almost 3,800 businesses in three regions at risk from flooding: StatCan
May 24, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – Statistics Canada says almost 3,800 business locations were at risk of being affected by spring flooding in three of the hardest hit regions of the country. About 1,500 were potentially affected as of the end of April in…
How this property restoration firm got in and out of trouble
May 17, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA restoration contractor whose employee drove a company vehicle with a suspended licence is getting its truck back from police impoundment. A man identified as “C.S.” was pulled over in Barrie late Friday evening March 15 while driving a 2017…
Provinces asking feds for $138 million to help buy out flooded properties
May 16, 2019 Jordan Press - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – Flood-ravaged provinces are asking the federal government to provide almost $138 million to move or buy out homeowners affected by previous years’ inundations, according to new data that gives a glimpse into the national costs of helping residents…
Flood threat remains in Quebec and Ontario
May 15, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSMONTREAL – The Canadian Forces will maintain soldiers in Quebec to remove sandbags and restore critical infrastructure in communities hit by flooding, Brig.-Gen. Jennie Carignan said Monday. And while flooding has largely stabilized or begun to subside, high water levels…
The challenges of assessing seasonal home damage
May 13, 2019 by Adam MalikDespite being told flooding in Ontario’s Cottage Country back in 2013 was one-in-100-years event, area businesses and residents are cleaning up from a second and more widespread flooding incident in less than a decade. Climate is playing a key role…