By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

Hail Damage on Trend to Break Insurance Claim Records In Alberta

Aug 3, 2016 | 12:17 PM

ALBERTA – The Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) has reported that as of July 25, farmers in the province filed 5,800 crop insurance claims.

That number comes before last weekend when a series of damaging hail storms ripped through central and southern Alberta.

Nicky Booth, AFSC Spokesperson, said that of the 5,800 claims filed, 5,500 claims were the result of hail damage.

“It has been a pretty intense summer for storms. Typically the Parkland (Lacombe, Ponoka and Red Deer) area sees more damage; however, southern regions of the province are making more claims.”

As a result of this storm season, Booth explained that the AFSC is expecting to see an increase in hail insurance and pre-harvest insurance sold in April 2017.

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“It’s all about knowing your business risk management options, especially in a province where the federal and provincial government subsidize some of the premiums.”

According to AFSC policy, farmers have up to five days to make an insurance claim when crops have been damaged.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reported that the severe storm that swept across the prairies in June has resulted in more than an estimated $50 million in insured damage, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc.

The warm, humid air mass that crossed the region between June 28 and 30 resulted in multiple severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall causing localized flooding, strong winds gusting over 100 km/h, intense lightning, significant hail in Okotoks and a small tornado near Ponoka, Alberta.

Bill Adams, Vice-President, Western and Pacific, IBC suggested that farmers speak with their insurance companies to gain more insight on emergency preparedness and understand coverage procedures.

For more information on crop insurance in Alberta visit: www.afsc.com or call IBC’s Consumer Information Centre at: 1-844-2ask-IBC.