Spring time is here. Beware of floods and water damages!

Spring is synonymous with renewal, it announces the return of beautiful weather. Unfortunately, spring also brings heavy rain and melting snow – often too fast – which increases the risk of flooding and water damage. And, if on top of that strong winds get into already flooded areas, they can increase the flow of water and cause overflows which is a disaster.

We just have to remember the spring floods of 2017 caused by melting snow and heavy spring rains, which resulted in abnormally high totals for April and May. It was a real natural disaster, because municipalities were flooded that had never experienced flooding!

Does my insurance policy cover floods?

Standard home insurance policies don’t cover damages caused by floods. However, a number of insurers, including Aviva, now offer coverage for water damage resulting from the overflow of water. This coverage can be added to your home insurance policy for an additional cost. This product is relatively new on the market, is not widely available and there are certain eligibility criteria. If you’re interested by this coverage, contact your broker to see if you are eligible.

If you’re not eligible for this coverage, you may be eligible for the Financial assistance program for disaster victims of the Ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec.

Floods - What to do to protect your home and family before, during and after a flood.

Before flood
- Make sure foundation drains direct water to a storm sewer or sump pump, opposite the foundation.
- Also ensure that the sump pump (used to drain water from a sump (catch basin), which is usually in the basement) is connected to the storm sewer or it opens onto the lawn at least 1.5 m from the foundation wall.
- Check that drains, gutters, downspouts, and sumps are not obstructed. Clean them, if necessary.
- If you have a sump pump, equip it with a battery-powered auxiliary pump that will activate in the event of a power failure.
- Inspect your check valve or, if you do not have one, have one installed, "normally open" on the main sewer. This plumbing device allows the sewer to flow in one direction only, from your property to the collector and not vice versa.
- Seal cracks in the foundation, if necessary.
- Caulk around the windows of the basement and the bottom of the doors on the ground floor.
- Purchase sandbags, which can be used to contain the water.
- Take inventory of your belongings. Take photos or videos.
- Keep important documents on the upper floors.
- Prepare an emergency plan and make sure each family member knows what to do. Don’t forget cats and dogs.
- Prepare an emergency kit for the first 72 hours.
Flood imminent and during the flood
- Turn off the power and gas, and unplug electrical appliances if you can do it safely. Only turn off the power supply if the area around the fuse box is completely dry.
- Move your furniture, electronics or electrical appliances and other property above ground level or to higher floors.
- Try to protect your major appliances with a containment wall, for example by stacking sandbags or installing polyethylene barriers.
- Keep calm and follow the instructions of the authorities, especially in terms of evacuation or boiling water.
- Keep your emergency kit handy and do not forget to bring it if you need to evacuate.
After flood
- Wait for the go-ahead from the proper authorities before returning home.
- Before moving your entire family, make sure the structure of the house is safe. Be careful of curved walls, damaged floors, broken glass or other debris.
- If the power supply has not been shut off before flooding, do not enter your home until a qualified electrician has determined that there is no danger.
- Check if there is potable water, a bathroom and a functioning sewage system.

Once back home, take action immediately to reduce the damage.

If you have purchased the additional protection covering water damage resulting from the overflow of a watercourse*:
Your role
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible to report the claim. The Claims Department will explain the steps in the process and how to minimize the damage until an adjuster assesses the damage.
- Take pictures of the damage, or a video, to document your claim file.
- Keep the damaged property until the claim adjuster comes.
- Remove stagnant water and damaged materials. Water damage poses a risk of mold contamination, especially if it is not remedied promptly. If mold contamination occurs, it may be necessary to take steps to address this problem. Mold can lead to health problems and additional damage to property, especially if action is not taken to eliminate it.
- For the restoration of damaged property, you may employ the contractor of your insurer or the contractor of your choice.
- No matter who you entrust the completion of the work, they should be done as quickly as possible. Your insurance policy may not offer any guarantee in the future for damages resulting from your failure to act promptly in this matter.
- If you deal with the authorized contractor of your insurer, the work is usually guaranteed. If, on the other hand, you prefer to employ another contractor, your insurer will only guarantee the cost of the work up to the amount stipulated in the evaluation of your insurer's contractor.
- If your policy includes a deductible, you must pay it according to the agreement between you and the expert handling your file.
The claim adjuster’s role
- The claim adjuster will visit the premises to assess if the damage is covered*. If it is, he will arrange for a contractor and a restoration company if necessary. In some cases, he may call in a building appraiser.
- Once the agreement is reached for the extent of the damage, work begins. The time to repair the damage is confirmed by the contractor assigned to your file. An assessment for the replacement of movable property damaged during the incident may be necessary. Your claim adjuster will guide you on how to proceed.
- In the majority of cases, invoices will be submitted directly to your claim adjuster who will pay them.
If your insurance policy does not cover damage resulting from the overflow of a watercourse:
Your role
- Report the damage to your municipality and contact the Ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec to find out if you qualify for the Financial assistance program for disaster victims.
- Take pictures of the damage, or a video, to document your claim file.
- Remove stagnant water and damaged materials. Water damage poses a risk of mold contamination, especially if it is not remedied promptly. If mold contamination occurs, it may be necessary to make considerable efforts to address this problem. Mold can lead to health problems and additional damage to property, especially if steps are not taken to eliminate it.
- Use experts to clean, disinfect and dry each piece that has been contaminated with water.
- Keep the invoices and any supporting documents relating to the expenses incurred.

Because of climate change, water damage is becoming more common and more serious. Prevention can play an important role in minimizing their impact. The inspection and exterior maintenance of your home should be part of an annual or even biannual routine. Your insurer is your best source of information in case of water damage. They will provide valuable advice.

* Check your insurance policy for conditions, restrictions or exclusions or talk to your broker to make sure you are covered.

Sources:

Government of Canada – Floods – What to do?

Infoassurance

The content in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as professional or expert advice. Aviva and the Aviva logo are trademarks of Aviva plc. and are used under licence by Aviva Canada Inc. and its subsidiary companies.

Spring time is here. Beware of floods and water damages!

Before flood

Flood imminent and during the flood

After flood

If you have purchased the additional protection covering water damage resulting from the overflow of a watercourse*:

If your insurance policy does not cover damage resulting from the overflow of a watercourse:

Make a claim or Call us or FAQ

Make a claim

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