The tornadoes that struck the Barrie area on July 15, 2021, caused much more damage than previously estimated, a new release from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has revealed.
Citing updated figures from CatIQ, IBC said that the six EF-2 tornadoes that hit Barrie, Innisfil, Kawartha Lakes, Little Britain, Manilla, Lindsay, and Lake of Bays in July have been estimated to cause $100 million in insured damage – about $25 million higher than the previous estimate of $75 million.
IBC noted that the July tornadoes resulted in 10 injuries, 71 uninhabitable homes, and more than 2,200 related insurance claims.
“Insurers have been in the community since day one, working hard to help their clients throughout the entire claims process, and will continue to work with policyholders,” said IBC Ontario vice president Kim Donaldson. “Your insurance representative is committed to helping you through this devastating event.”
Donaldson also stated that the insurance industry is currently experiencing delays due to supply chain shortages brought about by the pandemic. She asked customers for their patience in waiting for their claims and repairs to be settled, and for customers to cooperate with their respective insurers.
The vice president also continued to advocate for IBC’s stance on prioritizing climate change resilience through initiatives such as enhancing current building codes.
“More can be done to prevent damage and injuries from severe wind events, including EF-0 to 2 tornadoes, the most common in Canada, through very low-cost and effective changes to national and provincial building codes,” she said.
