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Photos by Dave Spites
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has
estimated that claims for insured
damages tote $75 from the tornado
that struck Goderich Aug. 21. Town
officials estimate that total damage
exceeds $100 million.
An Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) esti-
mate that suggests the insured damage
caused by the Aug. 21 tornado that struck
Goderich is estimated at $75 million is off the
mark Mayor Deb Shewfelt says.
A preliminary estimate reported by Prop-
erty Claims Services Canada, which tracks
insured losses arising from catastrophic
events, pegged the insured damage at $75
million. Data collected by the firm confirms
that thousands of claims have been filed for
damage to homes, cars and businesses in the
wake of the F3 tornado.
"It's a preliminary report and 1 don't think it
included industries like Sifto Salt Mine,"
Mayor Shewfelt said Thursday after the con-
tents of the IBC report had been released.
"In the town of Leamington, they didn't
have near the damage we sustained and it
was pegged at $120 million. I think the figure
they gave us is on the light side and doesn't
take into account what happened to indus-
tries, businesses, lost wages and other dam-
ages. I think the damage in Goderich topped
$100 trdllion easy:'
The Insurance Bureau deployed its Com-
munity Assistance Mobile Pavillion (CAMP)
by offering on-site, insurance related infor-
mation to local residents and businesses.
"Insurance companies were on the ground
after the disaster to help affected residents
and businesses,' VP Ontario Ralph Palumbo
said. "Many insurance companies brought in
extra staff to start issuing cheques to residents
to cover their daily needs and to begin
processing claims immediately. And the
industry continues to help the community to
recover"
Because of the extent of the claims and the
availability of skilled trades in the Goderich
area, the recovery and reconstruction process
will take some time as people look to either
demolish or rebuild structures. Insurers are
working to fulfill rebuilding requirements for
damaged homes and buildings with heritage
designations, to ensure the rich history of the
community is preserved.
A few tornados have ripped through
Ontario the past few years and the one that hit
Leamington in 2010 cost $120 million in
insured damage while the one that hit
Vaughan in 2009 caused $88 million in
damage.
Data about Goderich comes from Property
Claims Services Canada and if consumers
have questions, they should contact their bro-
kers, agents or insurance company
representatives.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada is the
national industry association representing
Canada's private home, car and business
insurers and its member companies repre-
sent 90 per cent of the property and casualty
insurance market in Canada