Insurance concerns mount as N.S. residents cope with wildfire destruction
Gina Gallant has lived in Hammonds Plains, N.S., for 28 years.
However, her family home was destroyed in the wildfires.
“It’s completely gone,” said Gallant, who is now processing, what will surely be, the biggest insurance claim of her life.
“We’re not sure. I’m covered and we can rebuild, or we can just, we have to have the property cleaned up.”
Gallant didn’t have pictures of the damage to share and she does not know what exactly to expect from a claim.
“I don’t have the answers,” said Gallant.
“This is all brand new to me. I’ve never been through anything like this before.”
Carol MacDougall lives in the same Highland Park area.
MacDougall’s home wasn’t destroyed, but she’s braced for a bad news scenario when it comes to potential damage to her property.
“We’re thinking possibly because the fire did destroy a house next to us and certainly there’s a lot of destruction around us as well,” said MacDougall.
Amanda Dean from the Insurance Bureau Canada has one simple piece of advice.
“Get that claim started,” said Dean, who added displaced residents should track all additional living expenses incurred after the fire, like hotel costs, rent and clothing.
“That insurer will then assign an adjuster to the file, who will ask a few very basic questions,” said Dean.
“Some insurers are looking for more details when it comes to contents. For example, itemizing items in your living room. Was there a TV, a sofa, a love seat or a coffee table?”
As for a timeline to receive money for a new home?
“We are talking months in this situation,” said Dean.
However, supply chain and labour shortages can cause delays in new home construction.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
'I feel honoured to say I was his friend': Wayne Gretzky remembers Bob Cole
Tributes continue to pour in for Bob Cole as his family has confirmed a funeral will be held for the legendary broadcaster Friday in St. John's, N.L.