CALGARY- A destructive wind storm that passed through Southern Alberta earlier this month continues to backlog insurance and trades companies.
The Beiseker Fire Department has had to be creative to replace the roof on their hall while they wait for builders.
The damage was so severe, the fire department has had to leave the building and set up a temporary station at a local service shop.
“It sounded like a freight train coming through. Two loud bangs and then it all just peeled right off,” says Jim Fox.
It’s a similar scene in nearby residential areas; homes are still roofless and trees lie on the ground.
Even sign companies can’t keep up with the demand. They estimate up to 1,000 canopies and signs were ripped to shreds during the storm.
“Some not so bad, others huge!” says Joanne Ruston, SpeedPro Signs. “20 foot canopies that are 20 pounds were falling off. In some cases even to get out to measure and take a look at the damage is hard because of the demand.”
AMA insurance says the storm likely caused more damage than any previous wind storm in history. To date, they’ve opened 739 claims, ringing in at approximately $5.7 million.
Intact Insurance doesn’t have their final numbers yet but is cautioning residents to watch for leaky roofs; some homeowners may not even know their home was damaged.
“We see the most damage between north of Crossfield to Lethbridge, so we’re talking over 200 kilometres in range,” says Ron Briggs.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada does not yet have a total damage estimate – that will likely be released next week.
It’s expected to run into the tens of millions of dollars.
The Beiseker Fire Department has had to be creative to replace the roof on their hall while they wait for builders.
The damage was so severe, the fire department has had to leave the building and set up a temporary station at a local service shop.
“It sounded like a freight train coming through. Two loud bangs and then it all just peeled right off,” says Jim Fox.
It’s a similar scene in nearby residential areas; homes are still roofless and trees lie on the ground.
Even sign companies can’t keep up with the demand. They estimate up to 1,000 canopies and signs were ripped to shreds during the storm.
“Some not so bad, others huge!” says Joanne Ruston, SpeedPro Signs. “20 foot canopies that are 20 pounds were falling off. In some cases even to get out to measure and take a look at the damage is hard because of the demand.”
AMA insurance says the storm likely caused more damage than any previous wind storm in history. To date, they’ve opened 739 claims, ringing in at approximately $5.7 million.
Intact Insurance doesn’t have their final numbers yet but is cautioning residents to watch for leaky roofs; some homeowners may not even know their home was damaged.
“We see the most damage between north of Crossfield to Lethbridge, so we’re talking over 200 kilometres in range,” says Ron Briggs.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada does not yet have a total damage estimate – that will likely be released next week.
It’s expected to run into the tens of millions of dollars.
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