Nationwide overland water protection an industry first

One insurer has put its money where its mouth is, introducing Canada-wide overland water protection for residential property owners and tenants.

Environmental

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One insurer has put its money where its mouth is, introducing Canada-wide overland water protection for residential property owners and tenants.

The coverage – available as an endorsement to Aviva Canada’s personal property insurance policies that have sewer back-up protection in place – will be launched first in Alberta and Ontario in May, and then rolled out to other provinces throughout 2015.

“Tens of thousands of Canadians have suffered losses from water damage in recent years,” said Sharon Ludlow, president, Aviva Insurance Company of Canada. “We’re proud to be the first insurer to offer overland water protection through our home insurance policies.”

The devastating floods in Alberta and the Toronto area in 2013 highlighted a key environmental truth – our country is getting wetter. Average yearly rainfall in Canada has increased by 12 per cent in the past 60 years, with 20 more days of rain a year since the 1950s. And catastrophes like overland flooding are on the increase. According to Environment Canada, severe weather events that used to happen every 40 years can now be expected to happen every six years.

Aviva's new overland water coverage is designed to protect individuals from fresh water flood damage – protection that’s not currently available to residential property owners.

The overland water endorsement responds to losses that result from the accumulation or run off of surface waters, including torrential rainfall when water enters the property.

The endorsement forms a key part of the Aviva Water Protection package, which combines base policy water protection (broken water pipes and more), sewer back-up protection (the backing up or escape of water or sewage) and overland water protection (from water entering the property).

“We will continue to collaborate with our industry partners such as the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction and governments at all levels, as well as representatives of our broker network, “ said Ludlow. “We are excited about bringing this solution to market. Our goal is to make this coverage accessible and affordable for the vast majority of our customers.” (continued.)
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No stranger to leading the charge on creating an overland flood insurance solution, Ludlow is a Director for the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, and is a member of the Adaptation to Severe Weather Strategic Committee and the Earthquake Oversight Committee of the Insurance Bureau of Canada (as well as serving as the IBC’s director).

Ludlow was at the forefront of bringing about fundamental change to how catastrophes are handled in Canada, participating in the Alberta forum that was held in the fall of 2013 that brought together stakeholders from across the country to discuss the nation’s property coverage policies.

 

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