Canada is no stranger to extreme weather events, such as the 2001-2002 drought, 2013 Southern Alberta flood and 2023-24 drought. However, not all extreme weather events that impact Canadians will make national headlines; events such as intense rain, heavy snow, hailstorms, unseasonable frosts, and drought can have significant consequences for families and communities.
When recovering from extreme weather events, you may not always know where to turn. Sometimes there can seem to be an overwhelming number of resources to consult, while in other cases there can appear to be very few.
To help, we have compiled the potential financial resources available to Canadians as they recover from an extreme weather event involving water: flood, drought, snow and hail. This is by no means an exhaustive summary of the resources, financial or otherwise, which may be available during the extreme weather event recovery period.
Click the menu links to the right learn more about what’s covered at the personal level and how municipal, provincial and federal governments respond.
| Extreme Event | Personal | Municipal | Provincial | Federal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overland flooding (also known as riverine, or fluvial flooding) |
Homes may be covered with optional flood insurance (can also include sewer backup)
Automobiles may be covered with comprehensive insurance |
No direct payout to individuals; municipal programs and activities will help public and private recovery | Disaster Relief Program funding may be available to individuals and municipalities affected by extraordinary, uninsurable events | Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement funding may be available to provinces/territories once recovery spending exceeds threshold |
| Urban flooding (also known as surface, or pluvial flooding) |
Homes may be covered with optional flood insurance (can also include sewer backup)
Automobiles may be covered with comprehensive insurance |
No direct payout to individuals; municipal programs and activities will help public and private recovery | Disaster Relief Program funding may be available to individuals and municipalities affected by extraordinary, uninsurable events | Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement funding may be available to provinces/territories once recovery spending exceeds threshold |
| Drought |
Not applicable to homes or automobiles
Crops may be covered by insurance |
Municipalities may participate in regional drought mitigation; unlikely to have recovery programs | Agricultural losses may be eligible for a Disaster Relief Program, but this is rare [2] | Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement funding unlikely to be available for producers in response to drought [3]; other programs may be available [4] |
| Hail |
External home damage likely to be covered by insurance
Automobiles covered only by comprehensive insurance Crops may be covered by insurance |
No direct payout to individuals; municipal programs and activities will help public and private recovery | Damages to individuals’ property unlikely to be covered by a Disaster Relief Program, given availability of insurance; municipal emergency operations and recovery may be covered by Disaster Relief Program, but this is rare | Damages to individuals’ property unlikely to be covered by a Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement, given availability of insurance; municipal emergency operations and recovery may be covered |
| Snow |
External home damage likely to be covered by insurance
Damage to automobiles covered only by extended insurance Crops may be covered by insurance |
No direct payout to individuals; municipal programs and activities will help public and private recovery | Damages to individuals’ property unlikely to be covered by a Disaster Relief Program, given availability of insurance; municipal emergency operations and recovery may be covered by Disaster Relief Program, but this is rare [5]. | Damages to individuals’ property unlikely to be covered by a Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement, given availability of insurance; municipal emergency operations and recovery may be covered |
This table is a guide only. It is not considered to be a replacement for insurance, related advice or a guarantee of support in the event of an emergency. Note the quantity and variety of insurance providers and municipalities in Alberta makes a comprehensive list problematic to keep up to date.
Share this Post:
We provide Canadian educational resources on water practices to promote conservation and sustainability. Our team crafts current and relevant content, while encouraging feedback and engagement.
The Canada WaterPortal is a registered charity, #807121876RR0001
We recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples and communities on whose land our work takes place.
© 2024 All Rights Reserved.
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.
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.