Severe weather across Prairies tallies $1.8B in insured losses; Edmonton hit especially hard
Summer storms caused 5-6 catastrophic events in Edmonton region alone. Infrastructure upgrades urged as flood insurance costs surge.
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Insurers have tallied more than $1.8 billion in insured losses from severe weather across the Prairies this summer, with the Edmonton region bearing an especially heavy blow.
Between five and six catastrophic events—each causing more than $30 million in damage—hit Edmonton and surrounding areas following heavy rainfall in June and July. The Insurance Bureau of Canada received thousands of claims from the Edmonton region alone. Aaron Sutherland, IBC western vice president, said that aging infrastructure cannot handle current precipitation levels. "Our sewer and storm infrastructure is aging out and it's no longer equipped to handle the precipitation levels that we're seeing. The world is changing and we're going to see more rainfall and more extreme weather events — not less — moving forward."
Edmontonians reported flooded basements, wastewater backups, and overwhelmed sump pumps throughout the summer. Jenny Derby's home in the Alberta Avenue area flooded on July 27, when the city was hit by three major storms in rapid succession. Her sewer line backed up because it couldn't clear between storms. Derby now pays $500 per month for flood insurance—more than half her mortgage—and expects a payout of about $100,000 from flooding and asbestos-glued tiles discovered in her home.
Michelle Gibson's townhouse complex in Beaumaris on Edmonton's north side flooded on June 24, when two feet of raw sewage filled the basement. All 10 units in the complex flooded the same day despite varied protective measures. "Some people had two sump pumps, some people had backflow valves, some people had nothing, but everybody was flooded. Nothing stopped it," Gibson said. Her home continued to suffer sewage flooding all summer, and she paid for a drainage specialist inspection.
Sutherland said municipalities need to prioritize upgrading infrastructure to mitigate future flooding. The source material does not indicate whether any municipalities have committed to specific upgrades or timelines.
Will Edmonton and other Prairie municipalities commit to infrastructure upgrades, and what is the timeline?
How much of the $1.8 billion in losses will be recovered through insurance payouts?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much in insured losses did severe Prairie weather cause this summer?
Insurers tallied more than $1.8 billion in insured losses from severe weather across the Prairies.
How many catastrophic weather events hit the Edmonton region?
Between five and six catastrophic events, each causing more than $30 million in damage, hit Edmonton and surrounding areas following heavy rainfall in June and July.
What is Jenny Derby now paying monthly for flood insurance in Edmonton?
Jenny Derby pays $500 per month for flood insurance on her home in the Alberta Avenue area.
What happened to Michelle Gibson's townhouse complex in Beaumaris on June 24?
Two feet of raw sewage filled the basement of Michelle Gibson's townhouse complex in Beaumaris, and all 10 units in the complex flooded the same day on June 24.
