The Insurance Bureau of Canada has released a statement on flooding and insurance coverage in the province of Quebec. The statement is in response to the flooding that has occurred in several Quebec regions in the past weeks. The Insurance Bureau’s aim is to provide understanding for residents of flooded regions regarding what is, potentially, covered under their insurance policies and how new flood coverage functions.
Topics covered by the Insurance Bureau of Canada are below.
| 1) | Is flood covered? |
| Until recently, flood was excluded from all home insurance policies. As of March 2017, some Quebec insurers started to offer overland water coverage. Since this is a new product, not all policyholders have coverage and flood victims should talk to their insurers as soon as possible. | |
| 2) | Does the state of emergency allow policyholders to receive additional living expenses? |
| No, a state of emergency is not a trigger for granting living expenses. A state of emergency and an evacuation order are two quite separate things. | |
| 3) | What happens when an evacuation order is given? |
Individuals who have flood insurance:
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Individuals who don’t have flood insurance:
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| 4) | What happens if a policyholder has a sewer back up because of flooding? |
| If the Sewer Back Up endorsement was added to the policy, the insurer will evaluate the situation. If the flood water reached the policyholder’s property and the flood caused the sewer back-up, this will be considered a flood. The policyholder will not be compensated, unless he has flood insurance. | |
| 5) | Are businesses covered in case of flood? |
| The flood endorsement for business insurance has been available for several years and, more specifically, covers loss of earnings. Business owners should call their insurer or broker to check what their insurance policy covers. | |
| 6) | Are Acts of God covered? |
| Most of the risks commonly called “Acts of God” can be covered, either under a basic home policy or additional coverage (an endorsement). Thus, torrential rains, violent winds, hail, ice storms and even earthquakes are insurable. Flood is beginning to be covered in Quebec. | |
| 7) | Are flooded vehicles covered? |
| Damage caused to vehicles is covered under the auto insurance policy, provided policyholders have opted for “all perils” coverage or “all perils other than collision or upset”. |
Because of the diversity of the damage incurred, IBC is advising flood victims to contact their insurer or broker, as soon as possible, to check the extent of their insurance coverage.
Earlier this week, Water Canada published an article from Lapo Calamai, director of Catastrophe Risk and Economic Analysis at the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Water Canada has provided ongoing coverage of the development of flood insurance in Canada.
Consumers can call IBC’s Insurance Information Centre, from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., at 514 288-4321 (Montreal region) or 1 877 288-4321 (elsewhere in Quebec). Relevant information can also be found at www.infoassurance.ca.
