$450 million: November's extreme flooding will be most expensive disaster in BC history
Extreme flooding and mudslides caused by record-breaking precipitation in November have led to the most costly disaster in BC history.
The BC division of the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has released some staggering figures when it comes to the insured damage that was incurred as a result of the floods.
In total, the extreme weather events have led to an estimated $450 million in insured damage, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc.
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The mudslides and flooding that were fuelled by atmospheric rivers that began on November 13 have led to what the IBC calls the most costly severe weather event in BC history.
Storms led to a loss of life, as well as flooding of property, farms and businesses. Infrastructure also sustained unprecedented damage.
#BCStorm work – #BCHwy8 at Curnow Bridge. Temporary foundation is now completed as work continues. #SpencesBridge pic.twitter.com/NGRkZK2hqF
— BC Transportation (@TranBC) December 9, 2021
Aaron Sutherland, Vice President, Pacific and Western, IBC, suggests that the government and taxpayers will bear the majority of the cost.
“As we continue to see the increasing impacts of our changing climate, it’s clear much more must be done to create a culture of preparedness and to build our resilience to the risks we face.”
To put the $450 million figure into perspective, the IBC points out that windstorms in January led to $134 million in insured damage across Western Canada. The devastating wildfires this past summer caused $155 million in insured damage.
Like other groups, the IBC is calling for better measures when it comes to disaster preparedness in the province.
“These disasters are also having an outsized impact on those most vulnerable and, as a result, we must greatly enhance our efforts to mitigate future climate change and to adapt to the new weather reality we face,” adds Sutherland.
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