In response to the weekend heavy rains that caused flooding in parts of southern British Columbia, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has deployed its virtual Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (CAMP) in the region.

IBC’s CAMP will assist BC residents affected by the flooding with their insurance questions and concerns. The information hub is staffed with trained insurance industry personnel, who can also be reached through the IBC’s Consumer Information Centre.

The bureau said in a release that it deploys CAMP in disaster sites that have suffered significant damage from natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, and storms.

“The priority right now is the safety of those affected and their loved ones. Our thoughts are with those whose lives have been disrupted and whose homes or businesses have been damaged or destroyed following the heavy rains,” said IBC Western and Pacific vice president Aaron Sutherland. “Canada’s insurers are here to help. Severe weather events like these cause significant turmoil and stress for homeowners.”

Sutherland also noted that about half of BC residents have flood coverage in their home insurance policy, but flood insurance is fairly new to the market and its availability can be limited in some high-risk areas.

IBC said in a release that some 5% of BC homeowners are unable to purchase flood insurance due to living in a high flood risk zone. To address this, the bureau is collaborating with the federal and provincial governments to create an affordable national flood insurance solution for all Canadians.