Moody Mother Nature: natural disasters in Canada

Prairies and forests, mountains and plains, rivers and streams, bitter cold and blazing heat – with such a diverse landscape and climate, it’s no wonder Canada is prone to natural disasters. They can strike at any time – and they do, every year! When Mother Nature is in a bad mood, she can cause substantial damage to people’s homes, cars, and other property. Learn more about some of the most common natural disasters in Canada, as well as some tips for how you can ensure you're adequately protected in the event of a nasty surprise.

Forest fires

Forty-five percent of forest fires in Canada are set off by lightning, but Mother Nature is not solely responsible for these disasters! In fact, the other fifty-five percent of forest fires are caused by human activities such as unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, or controlled burns that become unmanageable. The regions most affected are British Columbia and the boreal forests of Ontario, Quebec, the Prairie Provinces, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.  

Forest fires can be especially devastating, as last May’s Fort McMurray fire sadly demonstrated. This catastrophic event destroyed 2,400 buildings, razed almost 6,000 square kilometers of forest, and forced 80,000 residents to evacuate the area. The emotional toll of such events can be overwhelming, as people are displaced and sometimes lose everything they own.  

Although they are devastating, forest fires play a critical role in the forests’ natural lifecycle. They clear out dead trees and undergrowth, providing space for new growth. They also help in the germination of certain tree species, such as the lodgepole pine, whose seeds are only released from their cones during a fire. 

The human and financial toll of forest fires can be substantial. This is where home insurance comes into play. It is crucial for homeowners, particularly those in high-risk areas, to ensure they have adequate coverage for fire damage. Insurance can help cover the cost of repairs or rebuilding, as well as provide temporary living expenses if you are forced to evacuate your home. 

The aftermath of a fire can be a complicated time, as homeowners navigate the claims process while trying to rebuild their lives. Insurance companies can provide valuable support during this time, helping policyholders understand the steps involved and ensuring they get the maximum benefits they are entitled to under their policy. 

In the case of the Fort McMurray fire, insurance payouts reached $3.7 billion, making it the costliest disaster in Canadian history for insurers. This underscores the critical role insurance plays in helping communities recover and rebuild after a disaster. 

Floods and torrential rains

You might be surprised to find out that floods cause more property damage than any other natural disaster in Canada. When Spring rolls around and the snow melts, or when we get a torrential downpour, floods can happen. And they can really wreak havoc on homes and neighbourhoods. 

When warm and humid air masses rise rapidly, they lead to storms with heavy rain that can cause flash floods. Torrential rains can also result from hurricanes that became extratropical cyclones that travel as far as eastern Canada. The 1997 Red River flood in Manitoba and the 2013 flood in southern and central Alberta wrought the worst damage in the country’s history. These floods caused billions of dollars in damages, disrupting lives and impacting whole communities. 

If a flood does hit, having the right insurance can make a huge difference. It can help pay for repairs to your home and replace damaged belongings. Plus, if you can't stay in your home because of flood damage, your insurance might cover some of your extra living expenses. Flood coverage isn't automatically included in all policies, so it's a good idea to chat with your insurance provider to make sure you're covered.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are a mighty force of nature. They can bring super heavy rain, strong winds, and create storm surges, which are like big waves that can flood the coast. Even though hurricanes usually calm down a bit by the time they reach us in Canada, they can still be a big headache. They might not be as strong as they are in the United States and the Caribbean, but they can still cause a lot of damage. Hurricane Hazel, which flooded the city of Toronto in 1954, mostly retained its strength as it travelled our way and hit the city full force. Up to 225 millimetres of rain fell on Toronto in less than 24 hours. Hazel destroyed more than 50 bridges, and many roads and railways. Sadly, many people also lost their lives. 

Hurricanes can also knock out power, damage homes, and even cause landslides. The cleanup after a hurricane can take a long time and cost a lot of money. But here's the good news - home insurance can help. Most standard home insurance policies in Canada cover damage caused by hurricanes. This can include things like repairs to your home if it's damaged by wind, hail, or rain. But remember, not all types of damage might be covered, so it's best to check with your insurance provider to make sure. 

Tornadoes

You may be surprised to learn that Canada is outranked only by the United States as the country with the highest number of tornadoes each year. Not to be confused with hurricanes, tornados are produced by a violent storm and are accompanied by lightning, hail and torrential rain. (You can read more on the topic of hail in Alberta and the 2016 Saguenay hailstorm.) They like to show up in the summer, mainly in southern Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, southern Ontario and Quebec, the interior of British Columbia, and western New Brunswick. And boy, do they hit hard! They can travel over 100 kilometers per hour and their winds can be so strong they can rip a house right off its foundation.

When a tornado hits, it can damage or destroy your home, your car, your fence - pretty much anything on your property. It can even throw debris around that can cause more damage. But if you've got the right insurance, it can help cover the costs of repairs or rebuilding, and even help replace your belongings if they're damaged or lost. But be sure to check with your insurance company, because not all policies are the same. Some might cover wind damage but not flooding from heavy rain, for example. You want to make sure you're covered for whatever Mother Nature might throw your way. 

Volcanic eruptions

You might think of volcanoes as something you'd see in Hawaii or Iceland, but Canada has had its fair share too. Back in 1775, the Tseax Cone, also known as the Aiyansh volcano, erupted in British Columbia. The poisonous gases released by the volcano are said to have caused thousands of deaths and the lava flows dammed up a nearby river. Volcanic eruptions in Canada might be rare, but there have been at least 49 in the last 10,000 years. 

Most volcanoes are located in western Canada, with the most active of these in the Yukon and British Columbia. They're part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean known for its active volcanoes and susceptibility to earthquakes.

Volcanoes can do a lot more than just spew out lava. They can cause landslides, ash clouds, and even tsunamis. And all of that can lead to some serious damage to homes and property. That's where home insurance comes in. A good policy can help cover the cost of repairs if your home is damaged by a volcanic eruption, so you'll want to check with your insurance company to make sure you're covered. 

Earthquakes

If you live on the West Coast or in the Saint-Lawrence Valley, you're in the regions most vulnerable to earthquakes in Canada. Each year, we feel about 50 seismic events of some significance across the country. Thankfully, no one has lost their life to an earthquake in Canada, but they can still cause a whole lot of damage. The Cornwall earthquake in 1944, the Vancouver Island earthquake in 1946, and the Saguenay earthquake in 1988 all caused millions of dollars of damage.

The thing with earthquakes is that they can be sneaky. They can happen without warning and cause damage not only from the initial shake but also from aftershocks. Buildings can be damaged, roads can crack, and landslides can be triggered. They can cause power outages, fires, and even tsunamis. Most standard home insurance policies in Canada don't automatically cover earthquake damage. But don't worry, you can usually add it on for an extra cost. This additional coverage can help to repair or rebuild your home if it's damaged by an earthquake. It can also help to replace any of your stuff that got damaged.

Avalanches and landslides

In Canada, we have a lot of different types of avalanches and landslides – from rock avalanches and snow avalanches to rockslides and subsidence. They mostly happen in the mountains of British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alberta. When a big chunk of snow or rock breaks loose and slides down a steep slope, it can move crazy fast. In fact, a major rock avalanche in B.C. in 1959 hit speeds of 360 km/hour.

Avalanches and landslides can be devastating, causing numerous deaths and millions of dollars of damage. They can wipe out roads, homes, and entire sections of towns. It's not just the immediate impact either – these events can also cause long-term issues like changes to the landscape, destruction of habitats, and even altering water flow and causing flooding. If you live in an area that's at risk for avalanches or landslides, you might want to consider getting additional coverage. This could help with the cost of repairs or rebuilding if your home is damaged If you live in an area that's at risk for avalanches or landslides, you might want to consider getting additional home insurance coverage. This could help with the cost of repairs or rebuilding if your home is damaged.

Ice storms

Most of the time, ice storms in Canada might just make your driveway slippery or coat your car in a layer of ice. But every now and then, we get a real whopper, like the 1998 ice storm that hit the Saint-Lawrence Valley. It caused deaths, destruction, and widespread prolonged power outages. During the storm, 2.6 million people reportedly could not make it to work – that is 19 percent of the Canadian workforce!

Ice storms can do a whole lot of damage. They can break tree branches, take down power lines, and even collapse roofs under the weight of the ice. And when the power goes out, it's not just about being in the dark. It can also mean no heat, which in the middle of a Canadian winter, is a serious problem.

But here's the good news - home insurance can be a big help. Most standard home insurance policies in Canada cover damage caused by ice storms. This could include things like repairs to your home if a tree branch falls on it or if your roof collapses under the weight of the ice. If you can't stay in your home because of damage from an ice storm, your home insurance might also cover your extra living expenses. This could include things like hotel bills, meals, and even moving costs. 

Dealing with an ice storm can be tough, but having the right insurance can help you get back on your feet. It's all about being prepared and having the right coverage. 

How you can stay prepared 

Unfortunately, nobody can prevent natural disasters from happening, but the best thing you can do is be prepared. Make sure you check the news and weather alerts on the belairdirect app to stay in-the-know about major storm activity and other weather events in your area, and make sure you’re covered with the right insurance to protect you against the elements. Reach out to a belairdirect agent to learn more about the insurance coverage you need in case of a natural disaster. And above all enjoy the splendour of Mother Nature in her good moods!