Protecting Your Home from Alberta’s Wildfires and Hail
Living in Alberta, we know the power of nature all too well. In 2024 alone, the Jasper wildfire caused over $1 billion in insured damages, and the Calgary hailstorm racked up $3 billion—making it Canada’s costliest hail event ever. At McDonalds Insurance, we want to help you protect your home from these risks.
Why It’s a Concern:
Severe weather events are on the rise, with Alberta seeing $8.5 billion in losses last year. Annual natural catastrophe losses have jumped from $100 million (1983-2004) to $1.5 billion in the past decade. That’s a big shift, and it impacts us all, even here in Didsbury.
This dramatic shift is influenced by a changing climate, which is leading to more intense and frequent extreme weather phenomena, including longer wildfire seasons and more severe hailstorms.
Steps You Can Take:
Adopt FireSmart Practices for Wildfire Defence: Wildfire risk extends beyond just forested areas; embers can travel kilometres and ignite properties in urban and rural settings alike. FireSmart Canada offers practical, science-based guidelines for homeowners. Consider implementing these key principles:
Create a Defensible Space: Establish a non-combustible zone of at least 1.5 metres immediately around your home and any attached structures like decks. This means removing all combustible materials such as dry leaves, needles, firewood, and flammable shrubs.
Manage Vegetation: Within 10 to 30 metres of your home, prune lower branches of trees (at least 2 metres from the ground) to prevent fire from climbing into the canopy. Ensure proper spacing between trees and use fire-resistant plants in your landscaping.
Choose Fire-Resistant Materials: When building or renovating, opt for non-combustible roofing materials (e.g., metal, asphalt shingles rated for fire resistance) and siding (e.g., stucco, fibre cement). Ensure vents are screened to prevent embers from entering your attic or crawl space.
Regular Maintenance: Keep gutters and eaves clear of debris, as these can quickly ignite from embers.
Hail-Proof Your Property: Minimising Impact Damage: Alberta's reputation as "Hail Alley" is well-earned. While no home can be entirely "hail-proof" against the most extreme events, strategic upgrades can drastically reduce the risk of significant damage.
Install Impact-Resistant Roofing: Consider upgrading to Class 4 impact-resistant shingles or other resilient materials like metal roofing. These materials are rigorously tested to withstand the force of large hailstones, helping to prevent costly roof replacements and potential water ingress. Many insurers offer discounts for homes with these enhanced roofing systems, reflecting their reduced risk profile.
Secure Outdoor Items: Before a storm hits, ensure all outdoor furniture, barbecues, and other loose items are secured, and if appropriate, stored indoors. Hail, especially when accompanied by strong winds, can turn these items into whirling projectiles.
Protect Vulnerable Exterior Elements: Inspect siding, windows, and skylights for any existing vulnerabilities. Consider impact-resistant windows in high-risk areas.
Review Your Policy: Is Your Coverage Up to Date? The escalating costs of repairs and rebuilding mean that the coverage you had a few years ago might no longer be sufficient for today's realities.
Understand Your Coverage Limits: Ensure your policy provides adequate coverage for replacement costs, not just the depreciated value of your home and contents. Construction costs have risen significantly, and you want to be sure you can rebuild to the same standard.
Confirm Specific Perils: While most standard home insurance policies in Alberta cover fire and hail damage, it's crucial to understand any deductibles or specific clauses related to these perils. Some policies may have higher deductibles for hail claims, for instance.
Additional Living Expenses (ALE): In the event of an evacuation or damage that renders your home uninhabitable, your policy may cover additional living expenses. Confirm the limits and duration of this coverage so you know what to expect if you need to relocate temporarily.
Keep an Inventory: Maintain an up-to-date home inventory of your possessions, including photos and receipts. This will significantly expedite any claims process.
See our Home Inventory Checklist !
We’ve been part of this community since 1941, and we’re here to help you weather any storm—literally!
Contact us today at 403-335-3442 or email office@mcins.ca to schedule a policy review.
We look forward to helping you keep your home safe and secure.