The Challenges Of Assessing Seasonal Home Damage

Despite being told flooding in Ontario’s Cottage Country back in 2013 was one-in-100-years event, area businesses and residents are cleaning up from a second and more widespread flooding incident in less than a decade.

Climate is playing a key role in flooding and it’s forcing everyone from adjusters to restoration companies to adjust their approach to assessing damage and lessening the fallout, said Shane Swinson, vice president, insurance portfolio at FirstonSite Restoration.

“As the climate becomes a little less predictable, we’re seeing longer winters and colder sparks of winter followed by warm weather,” he added. “You have the excess of water that river and lakes haven’t been used to.”

When a flood hits, claims adjusters are facing a number of challenges upfront.