Vanessa Big Eagle, a band councilor overseeing the housing of the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation, experienced significant damage to her own home due to severe weather conditions. Reflecting on the event, she remarked, “We’re accustomed to various extreme weather occurrences, but the winds in May were particularly intense.” The severe weather incident affected 23 out of the 54 homes in her community, situated 160 kilometers southeast of Regina. Big Eagle mentioned that her own house suffered the most damage, with a substantial portion of the roof being blown off. Consequently, she has been processing insurance claims for the homes managed by the First Nation, noting that many residences are still in need of repair, leading one family to seek temporary accommodation in a hotel.
Recent data indicates a surge in insured losses in Saskatchewan due to severe weather events, potentially leading to increased insurance rates. According to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc., Saskatchewan recorded its highest dollar amount of insured losses from significant weather events last year, totaling $450 million, the highest since data collection began in 2008. Notably, extreme winds in June resulted in the most significant insured loss from a single event in the province, amounting to $240 million, followed by the northern wildfires in the previous summer.
Laura Twidle, the president and CEO of Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc., highlighted the exceptional nature of the past two years in terms of insured losses. Twidle emphasized the severity of the wildfires and the resulting insured losses, marking a significant departure from previous years’ trends.
Jason Thistlethwaite, a professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, expressed concerns regarding the potential impact on insurance policies. He noted that even individuals whose properties remain undamaged could face repercussions, as insurers may seek to recover losses by raising premiums and tightening coverage. Thistlethwaite suggested a shift towards a proactive approach to mitigate property damage and reduce risks associated with climate-related disasters.
In response to the escalating demand for repairs following weather-related damage, companies like Leeway Mechanical Inc. in Oxbow, Saskatchewan, have witnessed a surge in requests for services. Duane Lee and Allison Thompson, the owners of the plumbing company, highlighted the increased workload they have experienced in recent years due to extreme weather events. Similarly, restoration company Fire & Flood reported a rise in calls for assistance, particularly at their Prince Albert location, attributing the growth in demand to severe weather conditions leading to basement flooding.
Chris Kaban, the operational manager at Fire & Flood, noted that the company has seen a substantial increase in employees, expanding from 85 to 150 in the past few years to meet the rising demand for their services. He underscored the impact of severe weather events on their operations, mentioning that the current weather patterns resemble those experienced in the early ’90s.
In light of these developments, stakeholders are urged to prioritize strategies that mitigate risks and prevent property damage, signaling a potential shift in the approach to managing climate-related challenges.
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