This past summer was the third costliest for insurance companies in Canadian history when it came to losses for severe weather, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
A total of $3.7 billion in claims were submitted for flooding over the summer, according to bureau statistics.
In August, a state of emergency was declared in St. Catharines when severe rainstorms caused massive flooding to homes in the region.
In an interview with CTV News, Rich Battel, a St. Catharines resident, said that his basement was damaged due to the heavy rainstorms that fell in the area.
“Water was actually billowing up from the floor drain, and I noticed on the other side it was coming up through the basement shower. So, we were getting flooded on both ends, and it was raw sewage,” Battel said.
He said he ended up with six to eight inches of sewage water in his basement. When he called his insurance company, CAA, Battel said he was directed to use a restoration service, ServiceMaster Canada.
Over a two-day period the company came, ripping out drywall, carpeting, and other contaminated items. The sewage water was removed, and drying equipment was used.
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Battel had a basement insurance coverage limit of $50,000, but that also included the cost of the cleanup. When he asked how much the two-day cleanup cost, he was shocked to initially be told it was $27,000.
“I was floored. I actually emailed her and said this is crazy, like we had six people here for two days,” said Battel.
Daniel Loosemore, the chief of sales operations with the company, told CTV News that the original quote of $27,000 for cleanup was an estimate and that was later reduced to $20,000.
“The reality is this type of work is expensive. This pricing and the scope of requirements is the industry standard and is reviewed by your insurance company,” said Loosemore.
He said flood cleanup work involving raw sewage is costly because it requires specialized training, equipment and there are biohazard and health risks.
“In this case, especially when you have contamination in your house, you want trained professionals in your home to do it correctly the first time,” said Loosemore.
After paying for the cleanup through his insurance policy, Battel said he would have only $23,000 left to restore his basement, with quotes from contractors far exceeding that total.
“We had three quotes from different contractors. One was for $68,000, another $74,000, and $120,000,” said Battel.
‘We have been in ongoing discussions,’ CAA confirms
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson on behalf of the CAA said that “we recognize that experiencing a significant property loss can be extremely stressful, and we understand how challenging the recovery process can be for those affected, and CAA takes great care to support insureds during this process.
“We have been in ongoing discussions with the insured to reach an agreement and can confirm that they are receiving the full policy limit available under their claim.
“It is important to note that the preliminary estimate that the insured shared was not complete and had not yet been verified or reviewed. That was done over the past couple of weeks and subsequently discussed with the insured,” the spokesperson said.
“While we are unable to publicly discuss the details of an individual insurance claim, finalizing these agreements takes time, and we are pleased to have found a suitable resolution. We remain committed to supporting our insureds through every stage of the claims process.”
Battel said the insurance company agreed to pay the full cost of the cleanup and gave him the entire $50,000 he was insured for to restore his basement.
