How insurance experts recommend you prepare for a hurricane
Insurers are getting their rubber boots on in anticipation of Hurricane Fiona causing heavy damage to homes in Atlantic Canada this weekend.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada expects debris to damage homes, and sewer and wastewater systems to be overwhelmed with some of that water ending up in basements.
Amanda Dean, vice president of the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Atlantic region, said water and wind damage claims are what the industry is preparing for.
"Anything homeowners can do to prepare their homes for those types of things happening is well advised at this point," said Dean on Thursday.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada listed its top 10 tips to prepare for Fiona on its website earlier this week.
Tips included making an emergency preparedness plan for the family and moving valuable or sentimental items out of the basement.
Other suggestions included having cell phones fully charged and securing or bringing inside patio furniture and other backyard items.
"Trampolines can become airborne," said Dean. "They can travel a great distance during a windstorm event or a hurricane event. Bringing those trampolines in, even if they are tethered to the ground, the wind can come underneath and catch them at just the right angle."
Dean said most home insurance policies cover damage resulting from wind, but water in a basement due to sewer backup or overland flooding is only covered if the homeowner has purchased specific coverage.
“Typically, what is not covered is salt water. So, any water that climbs up over the banks and splashes into your home, which is a nice way of saying a storm surge, that is not likely covered under your home insurance policy," she said.
Some homeowners in the Greater Moncton area don't seem too concerned about what Fiona may do to their property.
"No, no I'm not," said Rene Basque. "I hope we're not going to get as much as we thought. It's going out to sea I think."
Chantal Malenfant said she just had a new roof installed on her home.
"I'm hoping that they did a good job and nothing's going to happen to it with all the high winds," said Malenfant.
Jennifer Fontaine said she's ready for what the storm may bring.
"We're very well aware of what we have for insurance and we have coverage so we're not too worried. We know our insurance providers will help if needed," said Fontaine.
Dean said if a homeowner's property is damaged this weekend, they should call an insurance representative as soon as possible. She also suggests documenting the damage with a cell phone, which will help the claims process in a big way.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Calgary police shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers dealt with a distraught individual. The incident lasted almost 20 hours.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.