Insurance claim tally for last year’s floods, wildfires in Nova Scotia: $490 million

By The Canadian Press on July 25, 2024.

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A helicopter carrying water flies over heavy smoke from an out-of-control fire in a suburban community outside Halifax that spread quickly, engulfing multiple homes and forcing the evacuation of local residents on Sunday, May 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

HALIFAX – The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the devastating wildfires and deadly flooding that plagued Nova Scotia last year have resulted in $490 million in insured losses.

The damage estimate is included in a new report that says some claims have yet to be resolved.

In May and June of last year, two major wildfires burned more than 24,000 hectares and destroyed more than 200 homes and cottages, and more than 150 other structures.

And in July of last year, four people died when the municipality of West Hants experienced widespread flooding after 250 millimetres of rain fell over 24 hours.

The insurance industry’s report says 88 per cent of claims related to a wildfire near Halifax have been resolved, as have 90 per cent of the claims from flooding in West Hants.

The report says the claims process has been delayed by a scarcity of skilled labour, shortages of building materials and a lack of adjusters.