The severe weather that marked 2009 has been as costly as it has been unpredictable, according to Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), driving home the lesson that urgent action is needed throughout the country to manage the impact of climate change.

“This past year has been incredibly difficult when it comes to extreme weather,” said Don Forgeron, president and CEO of IBC.

“This year’s experience supports what insurers have known for some time: that weather patterns are changing for the worse and that severe weather events are becoming increasingly costly.”

At the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen earlier this month a report from the Belgium-based Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), noted that 224 out of 245 international disasters this year were weather-related, causing US$15 billion in economic damages.

While severe weather events brought losses to many communities across Canada, IBC cited these three as examples of how costly the insured damage can be:

1) Alberta windstorms. Deadly windstorms pummeled Alberta August 1-3, resulting in an estimated $365 million in insurance payouts.

2) Ottawa and Hamilton, Ont. rainstorms. Severe storms dumped torrential rains on the Ottawa and Hamilton regions July 24-26 causing $196 million in insurance payouts. Residents and emergency personnel dealt with power outages, fallen trees, damaged roofs and widespread sewer backups.

3) Vaughan, Ont. tornadoes. On August 20 a series of tornadoes struck the Greater Toronto Area terrifying residents, demolishing homes and causing insurance payouts exceeding $76 million.

IBC to introduce Watershed Awards

“An unfortunate amount of storm damage is caused by infrastructure failure,” said Forgeron. “Local systems are overwhelmed and unable to handle current levels of precipitation.”

The insurance industry has long advocated to governments at all levels for adequate funding to renew municipal sewer and surface water infrastructure.

In 2010, IBC will introduce a program to congratulate communities that have made significant infrastructure investments. The Watershed Awards will recognize forward-thinking communities that are confronting severe weather by improving outdated infrastructure. The call for submissions will be issued in January 2010.

To help Canadians at an individual level, IBC is expanding its efforts to educate consumers about how simple actions can make a big difference when it comes to protecting their property.

Consumers can visit www.ibc.ca to learn more about protecting their families and property from severe weather.

IBC is the national industry association representing Canada’s private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent nearly 95% of the P&C insurance market in Canada.

IE