Severe thunderstorms cause increased claims activity across Ontario

A series of severe thunderstorms ripped through much of Ontario on June 8, leaving a rash of claims in its wake. The first round of thunderstorms raced across areas from Southern Georgian Bay, across the Kawarthas to the Ottawa area in the early afternoon. As the fast moving thunderstorm moved across the area, there were reports of strong winds, torrential downpours and intense lightning, according to Environment Canada. Another line of storms moved across parts of the Greater Toronto Area in the early evening. Again there was torrential downpours, strong winds and lightning, but this thunderstorm brought with it hail. Wednesday’s storm followed on the heels of another round of severe thunderstorm’s that hit parts of Ontario on Tuesday evening. “In the last 24 to 48 hours, it’s been simply widespread, severe weather activity,” said Jim Eso, vice president of national property & casualty with Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. “From an adjusting standpoint, for independent adjusters especially, it is easier for us to manage than a highly localized event because we have our staff spread out in those areas already.”While there is a significant influx of claims, it is spread across a number of different company branches, which allows for the ability to better manage the increased load than if the same concentration of claims had hit one city. “About half of the claims volume is in the last 24 hours roughly is hail or wind and about 25% of it is water claims and the rest of it is the usual claims volume we would see,” Eso said. McLarens Canada offices across the province have been experiencing extremely high volumes of claims related to the recent extreme weather, as well. The Peterborough office alone received more than 60 claims in the past couple days. “While attending one claim this morning I had a neighbour come running down her driveway waving,” said Christina Welton, branch manager with McLarens Canada. “She had not heard from her insurance adjuster and wanted me to handle her claim as well. Unfortunately, I had to explain that I could not oblige, but offered some general advice . . . then on to my next claim.”