Canada is experiencing an alarming increase in the number of extreme natural catastrophes. In the last six months alone, we’ve seen floods, tornadoes, hailstorms, a hurricane and thousands of wildfires across the country.
On August 17, disaster struck the southern and central interior of British Columbia. As the apocalyptic images of the McDougall Creek wildfires were broadcast across Canada, it was abundantly clear that residents of the Okanagan area were in the throes of an unfolding disaster.
On August 18, just an hour north of Kelowna, a similar disaster played out as the Bush Creek East wildfire swept through the communities in North Shuswap, including Scotch Creek and Celista.
Over the next 48 hours, thousands of people were evacuated from their homes, scrambling to take what they could and desperate to find safety. Many would later learn that their property had been damaged or completely destroyed.
According to initial estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc., the two wildfires caused more than $720 million in insured damage. Close to 500 homes were completely destroyed, and thousands of lives were disrupted.
When a disaster of this magnitude strikes, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) immediately begins coordinating the insurance industry and insurers in their role as second responders.
That includes activating IBC’s Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (CAMP), a national program created on behalf of IBC member companies that provides on-site assistance to disaster victims. For more than a decade, CAMP has brought together local insurers and adjusters, as well as IBC’s trained insurance professionals, at disaster areas to help address consumer questions.
Local officials in the impacted areas were quick to establish several reception centres for evacuees. The busiest reception centre was in West Kelowna, where IBC and numerous insurers established a centralized insurance hub where evacuees could get information, and ask specific questions about the next steps in the insurance claims process.
Each day, IBC hosted a morning briefing for insurers where we provided situational awareness. We continued to share information and updates with insurers throughout the day, based on our interactions with government officials, stakeholders, residents and other organizations, as well as any other details on specific areas impacted by the wildfire. It was wonderful to see everyone together with a shared purpose – to ease the fears and anxiety that people had about their insurance coverage and assure them our industry would be a partner for the long term to help them recover. In many cases, evacuees were able to access much-needed financial assistance on the spot from the adjusters at the reception centre.
Over the next week, hundreds of people received one-on-one assistance from IBC or their own insurance company. We dispelled myths, provided information on the claims process, explained next steps and listened empathetically to the stories of many different families.
IBC representatives also travelled to neighbouring reception centres in Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton to provide support and contact information for residents needing help with insurance-related questions.
The McDougall Creek and Bush Creek East wildfires now rank as the tenth most costly insured disaster in Canadian history. As I toured the area in those first few days of CAMP, I noticed many signs and banners thanking local emergency officials and first responders. The efforts of everyone involved in battling the devastating wildfires throughout BC were truly heroic. We must also acknowledge the firefighters who tragically lost their lives helping to protect communities and keep residents safe.
In the weeks and months ahead, recovery and rebuilding will be ongoing. Adjusters have been meeting with residents and inspecting damaged properties; however, after events of this magnitude, the claims process can take time. We are not rebuilding one home or one business. The insurance industry will be helping rebuild entire neighbourhoods. Ongoing supply-chain issues and skilled-labour shortages in the construction industry will inevitably influence the time it takes to rebuild. The insurance industry will be standing with residents guiding them through the process, one day at a time. We have done this before and sadly, as catastrophic weather events continue to increase across Canada, we will likely be doing this again soon.
If you have any questions about insurance, contact IBC’s Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC (1-844-227-5422). We’re here to help.
