What insurers paid out for the latest Ontario storm

A brief but powerful thunderstorm that rolled through southern Ontario on June 13 has been declared a notable claims event by Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). While the storm did not meet the catastrophe threshold of at least $25…

Mobile app offers an ounce of prevention to P&C insurance consumers

As Canada’s wireless providers prepare to provide mandatory smartphone alerts for natural disasters and other emergencies, Desjardins General Insurance Group (DGIG) will soon allow its customers access to a severe weather alert system through mobile apps. This week, the Canadian…

Planning for a public emergency? Don’t follow Ontario’s example

Ontario’s emergency planning for risks such as severe weather, terrorism and cyber-attacks is in dire need of an update, the province’s auditor general concluded in a report released Wednesday. The province’s severe weather plan has not been updated in 12…

ICLR to hold webinar on homes impacted by Hurricane Irma

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) will soon be hosting its final Friday Forum of the year, focusing on Hurricane Irma and impacted homes in Florida. The webinar – Hurricane Irma Damage Assessment: Investigating the performance of Florida’s homes…

Strength in Numbers

Tech trends influencing claims adjusting in Canada

‘Quality of construction’ often a factor in wind damage to homes: AEIC speaker

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction has “heard really good things” about the prospect of hurricane straps being mandated in all new home construction in Ontario, ICLR’s managing director suggested at a recent conference. Hurricane straps, which are metal bands…

Harvey creating life-threatening flooding in southeastern Texas, early damage estimate up to US$2 billion

Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding persisted over parts of southeastern Texas as of early Monday morning despite Harvey being downgraded from an anticipated Category 3 hurricane to a tropical storm. “Do not attempt to travel in the affected areas if you…

Authorities confirm tornado hit Quebec town as cleanup operations continue

MONTREAL – Environment Canada says a tornado touched down in a Quebec town during intense thunderstorms that caused considerable damage in different parts of the province, including the felling of century-old trees in Montreal. Meteorologist Amelie Bertrand said Wednesday a team dispatched to Lachute confirmed an EF-1 tornado with winds reaching about 175 km/h struck in the town about 85 kilometres north of Montreal.

Bertrand said an EF-1 tornado can cause wind gusts ranging from about 135 to 175 km/h, placing Tuesday’s tornado at the higher end of…

Cleanup underway after severe storm with heavy winds rips through Montreal area

MONTREAL – Crews began cleaning up in Quebec on Wednesday after a suspected tornado hit one town and severe thunderstorms ripped through other parts of the province, felling century-old trees in one Montreal neighbourhood. The Montreal area and the Laurentian…

Catastrophe losses contribute to decrease in 2017 Q2 net income for Travelers

Solid net investment income was not enough to offset higher catastrophe losses and lower underlying underwriting gains, contributing to the Travelers Companies, Inc. witnessing lower net income for 2017 Q2 compared to 2016 Q2. Net income was US$595 million for…

Nat cat insured losses total US$19.5 billion for first six months of 2017: Munich Re

Four of the five costliest natural catastrophes, measured by insured losses, during the first half of this year, occurred in the United States, while four of the five deadliest events occurred in Asia, Munich Re announced. Munich Re released Tuesday…

Saskatoon thunderstorm estimated to cost over US$30 million, floods and convective storms cost global economy US$5 billion in June: Aon Benfield

A thunderstorm over Saskatoon on June 2 that spawned ping pong ball-sized hail is estimated to cost more than US$30 million, Aon Benfield said in its Global Catastrophe Recap report for the month of June. The fast-developing thunderstorm caused the…