We now know the estimated cost of a hailstorm that tore through Calgary last month, damaging cars and homes. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) says July 13 storm caused close to $92 million in insured damage. According to initial estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ), damage to vehicles represented 65 per cent of all claims. “Insured damage from hailstorms in Alberta over the past five years now stands at $6 billion,” said Aaron Sutherland, IBC spokesperson, in a news release. “Continued rebuilding on this scale is unsustainable and will put pressure on premiums until more is done to build resilience that prevents hail damage in the first place.” “We know what’s required – better building codes, financial support for retrofits, and enhanced risk mapping and warning systems. It’s time for a national conversation on how we can make these changes a reality to better protect Canada’s communities moving forward.” The IBC noted that many areas of Calgary sit within “Hail Alley,” a region know for “frequent and damaging hailstorms.” “Including last month’s hailstorm, Alberta has experienced at least one major hailstorm every year for the past two decades, resulting in more than $11 billion in insured damage,” The IBC said in a release. “The past five years alone have accounted for $6 billion of that total.” Sutherland says the storms are not one-off incidents and instead reflect a “clear and troubling pattern that demands action through public policy.” “It’s far past the time to have a serious conversation about the extent of repeated hail damage, specifically in Calgary, and the urgent need to consider resilience measures and adapt more effectively to our new weather reality,” he said.
