HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-24, Page 28Wednesday, August 24, 2011 • Signal -Star 27
edch tornado and insurance: What consumers need to know
relent storm and tornado
ch, Ontario yesterday,
Bureau of Canada (IBC)
g consumers about what
o know if their property
d.
nd foremost, those
ould ensure they and
ies are safe" said Ralph
`ice -President, Ontario,
added: "The property
homes and personal
businesses and public
is extensive. Ontario's
and business insurers
re to help residents and
businesses recover from this
disaster."
IBC reminds consumers:
Most home and business insur-
ance policies will cover damage
caused by wind, including broken
windows and removal of debris.
Auto policies cover wind damage
if comprehensive coverage has been
purchased.
Marine insurance policies will
usually cover damage to boats from
wind.
Homeowner's and tenant's
policies usually provide coverage
for additional living expenses if a
home is uninhabitable.
Consumers should contact their
insurance representative as soon as
possible to discuss coverage and
deductiblesand to report damage
claims. To facilitate claims process-
ing, homeowners should document
all property losses. And, if safe to do
so, they should protect their prop-
erty from further damage.
To help affected residents and
businesses with insurance -related
questions, IBC is deploying its Com-
munity Assistance Mobile Pavilion
(CAMP) to Goderich. IBC repre-
sentatives will be available to speak
with consumers and media today at
the Knights of Columbus C:ommu-
nity Hall, 390 Parsons Court.
CAMP is one of a number of ini-
tiatives by Canada's home, car and
business insurers to help Canadians
prepare for, and cope with, disas-
ters. The national program provides
disaster victims with on-site, quick-
response, insurance -related
information.
Affected residents can call IBC's
Consumer Information Centre in
Ontario at 1-800-387-2880 (Monday
to Friday, 8 a.m, to 5 p.m.) for
answers to insurance -related
questions.
About Insurance Bureau of
Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada is
the national industry association
representing Canada's private
home, car and business insurers.
Its member companies represent
90% of the property and casualty
(P&C) insurance market in
Canada. The P&C insurance indus-
try employs over 114,000
Canadians, pays more than $7
billion in taxes to the federal, pro-
vincial and municipal govern-
ments, and has a total premium
base of $40 billion.
To view media releases and
information, visit the media section
of IBC's web site at www.ibc.ca.
photo by Dave Sykes
friends embrace after finding each other in safety on Picton Street Sunday afternoon. There was
damage to houses and businesses such as Cook's Auto body in the Picton, Park and St. David
. The streets were Tittered with debris and impassable.
Sgt. Dave Rektor of the OPP conducted a news conference for a host of media at the
Knights of Columbus Centre Sunday evening. Mayor Deb Shewfelt declared a state of
emergency in town after the tornado and emergency responders sprung into action to
contain and stabilize many damaged areas in town.