According to a report yesterday from the
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), southern Alberta and Saskatchewan sustained an insured damage estimate of nearly $65 million due to a summer storm that struck both provinces on July 15-16.
“This is yet another example of severe weather events causing extensive damage in our region,” said IBC vice president, Western and Pacific Bill Adams.
“[It] reinforces the need for Canadians to understand their insurance policies and to have an emergency preparedness plan for when bad weather strikes,” he added.
The IBC prepared its report using data provided by Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ).
The report explained that a low-pressure system caused downpours, severe hail, and flashing flooding in both southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. The community of Lethbridge in Alberta sustained considerable hail damage while Calgary and Arbour Lake experienced flooding. Swift Current in Saskatchewan saw over 60mm of rainfall in less than an hour.
Alberta took the brunt of the weather event’s damage, the IBC said. Damages to homes and automobiles in the province resulted in more than $59 million in claims alone.
A week before the summer storm, another storm system had developed over the Prairie Provinces. CatIQ estimated that this earlier storm system caused over $48 million in insured damage.
Related stories:
Westlock, Alberta hit by heavy flooding
Southern Ontario storm causes over $30 million in insured damages
