Insured damages from summer floods in Prairies pegged at over $60 million

Insured damage from heavy rains and high winds across southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba in late June and early July is estimated at $60 million, according to Property Claim Services (PCS), the Insurance Bureau of Canada reported Wednesday.

“The flooding, wind damage and transportation disruptions caused by these storms disrupted people’s lives and businesses,” Bill Adams, vice president of the Western and Pacific region for IBC said in a statement.

“People were forced from their homes, roads were flooded and crops were destroyed. These storms are another example of the toll severe weather events are taking on Canadian families and communities.” 

Parts of southeast Saskatchewan and areas of western Manitoba reported heavy rain fall during this period and states of emergency were called in both provinces, according to IBC. Roughly 500 residents had to leave their homes and dozens of roads were impassable due to flooding.

Sections of at least 15 highways, including portions of the TransCanada Highway, were closed due to the flooding, IBC also noted. The rain also led to record flow levels on rivers and streams in both provinces.

“The insurance industry continues to raise awareness about the need to update infrastructure and to engage consumers on how to protect themselves and their properties against severe weather.  The industry is also working with all three levels of government to help develop, promote and implement adaptation measures,” Adams noted.

Photo: An aerial view of the flooding about ten miles north of Alida, in southeast Saskatchewan, is shown on Wednesday, July 2, 2014. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Don Healy)