The tornadoes that wreaked havoc across the National Capital Region last month – downing power lines and tearing the roofs off homes and businesses – caused $295 million of insured damages in Ottawa-Gatineau, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Homes, businesses and vehicles in Ottawa were hit for $192 million of insured damage when six tornadoes descended on the capital on Sept. 21, while the Gatineau side of the river saw $102 million in insurance payouts.
Among those making claims was Meat Press owner Etienne Cuerrier, who told OBJ he had his Ottawa delicatessen products well-insured before losing up to 120 kilograms of meat to the power outages.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
Give your home a stunning makeover—for 30 to 40 per cent less cost—with NorthCo Services
In the home renovation industry, companies don’t often see repeat clientele—but Ottawa’s NorthCo Services is a rare exception. “We have an upcoming project which will be the third one for
Minto’s Metro Towns at Anthem in Barrhaven & Parkside in Kanata offer attainable home ownership
Guided by the needs of homeowners, Minto has been building new homes and master-planned communities across Canada and the USA for 70 years. To ensure the best quality of life
The IBC says insurance companies sent additional resources to Ottawa-Gatineau in the tornadoes’ wake to handle the high volume of claims. The industry association noted in a release that Canada has seen $1.7 billion in insured damages so far this year, and stressed the importance of understanding the extent of insurance coverage for homes and businesses when it comes to dangerous weather.
The nearly $300-million figure compares with $223 million in insured damages from a pair of floods that hit the Ottawa-Gatineau region after heavy rainfall in the spring of 2017. Hydro Ottawa CEO Bruce Conrad compared the tornadoes’ impact to that of the 1998 ice storm in the capital.
