Unfortunately, for some, the damage may exceed the limit of their insurance, and there are steps they can take right away to speed up the process.
See also – Storm Debby: flooded roads and thousands of homes without electricity in Quebec
This text is a translation of an article in CTV News.
Renovco President Walter Assi says many people have insurance limits.
“A lot of people have been inundated with sewer backups and a lot of them don’t have adequate coverage and that’s where the drama begins,” Assi said.
He adds that insurance companies adapt to weather conditions. For example, when they notice that sewer backups are becoming more frequent, they try to limit the risks.
“You can do a specialist insurance quote to get additional guarantees for your basements, it’s extremely important,” he said. “I would advise you, even if you are flooded right now, before you undertake any emergency work, to check what you are getting yourself into because of these caps.”
Curtis Killen, president of KBD Insurance, revealed to CJAD 800 Radio what to do in the event of a claim:
- Take as many pictures and videos as possible.
- Call your insurance company to open a claim.
- Be patient.
- Make a list of damaged goods and objects. Take (again) pictures.
- Check if your sump pump motor is in working order.
- Be patient (again).
- Try to drain the water.
- Keep all receipts if you hire a private contractor to help with repairs.
“It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to take more than 24 hours to come and assess the damage to your home,” reported Mr. The guy.
“Be very careful if you decide to go it alone… Technically it’s the insurance company’s discretion. She can, I don’t think she will, but she might say, ‘This is not a recognized contractor of ours , so we won’t give you the invoice amount you give us.” I don’t think they will, but they might.”
If your home is damaged by flooding and you do not have the appropriate insurance, you can file a claim with the Quebec Public Safety Program (MSP).
Mr. Assi has been in the renovation and disaster business for about 30 years, and he’s never seen anything like Friday’s flooding.
“We’ve received about 1,200 calls since morning,” he said. “What’s really special about this event is that we get calls from all over the city.”
According to Mr. Assi, calls were even received off-island, from the north and south coasts and from Laval.
“We get calls from all over the city. Usually when we have these types of events, they tend to be more isolated in certain areas.”
According to Mr. Assi, the only thing to do is to pump the basements immediately. But before taking on any work, make sure they have proper boots, respirators, gloves and other equipment, as there is mold and other safety hazards.
“There are many things to check before you start the work yourself,” concluded Mr. Assi.
