After the Flood: Understanding Flood Insurance Options

Things to keep in mind

Depending on where Mr. Watersedge lives, there are important factors that will influence his insurance options:

  • What is covered? What isn’t covered?
  • Does living in the floodplain disqualify him?
  • Does he need to contact anyone aside from the insurance company?
  • To what degree are contents covered?

More Flood Insurance Content

Welcome to Creekshore where Mr. Watersedge lives near the banks of the Flash River

In the fictional Town of Creekshore, the Flash River is a major waterway that flows through the Town and provides citizens with drinking water and utilities. Creekshore is located near the headwaters of the Flash River so the Town can be subject to both flood and drought conditions. In times of significant rainfall, such as spring, the Flash River often rises causing localized flooding.

Cartoon of a glum person thinking about insurance

Last spring, the Flash River experienced a 1 in 100 flood that impacted many residents in the Town of Creekshore. One resident, Mr. Watersedge has owned a home on the bank of the Flash River for the past 20 years. Mr. Watersedge owns a modest property with only the essentials; however his collection of autographed Star Trek memorabilia in a glass case in his basement is an exception. He also rents his basement to a local University student. 

Unfortunately in the spring flood, overland flooding caused significant damage to his basement and property. Due to the Flash River flood, the tenant lost all their contents in the basement including a home theater system and personal memorabilia in a small storage room. The basement’s functional washroom, bedroom, and kitchen were also ruined. Living in the floodplain for the past 20 years, Mr. Watersedge has experienced smaller flood events in the past, but the extent of this recent flooding was unprecedented.

How do different insurance approaches compare to Mr. Watersedge’s circumstances?

Around the world, the problem Mr. Watersedge experienced is not unique, including in Canada. But how does his experience getting coverage for his flooded property change depending on where he lives? Here are three examples:

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States 

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Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.