Gaps in insurance coverage are a key factor contributing to financial stress among Jasper residents affected by last year’s wildfire, according to results from a municipal survey presented to council on June 24.
The Jasper Wildfire Recovery Needs Assessment Survey found that 52% of responding households were experiencing financial difficulty six months after the wildfire. The rate was higher among uninsured households whose homes were damaged or destroyed, with 82% reporting financial hardship.
Of those with damaged or destroyed homes, 56% said they had insurance. However, 67% of insured respondents said their coverage would not fully cover their losses or that they were unsure if it would.
“The lack or inadequacy of insurance coverage was correlated strongly with having financial difficulties,” said Doug Olthof, housing and social recovery manager for the Municipality of Jasper.
The survey was sent earlier this year to 800 randomly selected households from a pool of 4,035 that registered with the Canadian Red Cross during the evacuation. A total of 365 responses were received, resulting in a 45.6% response rate.
Financial strain was also more common among displaced residents (63%) and renters (69%). The survey found that housing was the most common area of difficulty among affected households, followed by access to food and clothing.
While the survey focused broadly on recovery needs, insurance-related challenges were identified as a significant driver of economic pressure. Olthof said the findings point to the need for more targeted support for residents managing insurance claims, particularly those facing uncertainty around coverage or delays in claims processing.
Six months after the wildfire, 42% of respondents were still displaced. Although not all of these cases were linked to insurance outcomes, housing access and temporary accommodation remain ongoing issues.
Sixteen per cent (16%) of respondents also reported encountering barriers when trying to access support services, including ineligibility, a lack of information, or service availability.
The survey findings are expected to be used to guide future municipal planning, with council scheduled to discuss next steps at its July 8 meeting.
