The impacts of climate change are undeniable, and growing year after year. Since the 1950s, disaster loss insurance claims have doubled every five to 10 years, and in 2005, they approached $100 billion. As the majority of many Canadians’ equity is within the home they own, it’s imperative to protect that investment from extreme weather events as best they can. 

TRREB is committed to fostering this protection through educating REALTOR® Members on how to improve their clients’ home energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase their homes’ resiliency against natural hazards brought on by climate change (Read TRREB’s full Climate Change Statement). 

In a recent episode of the Ready to Real Estate podcast, TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer met with Managing Director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Glenn McGillivray and Vice-President of Federal Affairs at the Insurance Bureau of Canada Craig Stewart to discuss how homeowners can make their properties more resilient against various weather effects caused by climate change. 

Flooding

Glenn says homeowners can protect themselves against flood damage through a few different measures. Sump pump systems, as well as backup pumps and backup power are essential tools in fighting floodwaters encroaching on homes. Methods to keep heavy rainfall away from the house, such as landscaping that encourages water to flow away from the home and extending your downspouts, can also help.

Craig adds that many of the protective actions that homeowners can take against flood damage are incentivized by both municipalities and insurers. The important thing to remember is to maintain flood prevention measures – through testing, cleaning, and repairing – so that they’re ready to protect the home when needed.

Wind Damage

Wind damage from tornadoes and hurricanes is increasingly likely in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA )and wider Ontario. Craig notes that most of the damage from an F3 tornado that tore through Ottawa a few years ago was the result of inadequately secured roofing joists. When a wind event occurs, keeping roofs on homes – and not flying into adjacent properties – is key to reducing the damage. 

To do this, Glenn says that homeowners should put in measures to keep the roof in place, over and above what the building code suggests – installing a hurricane strap will keep the roof on in most of the wind events Canada will see. In addition, if there is a forecast of strong winds coming, homeowners should secure or put away large outdoor items, such as patio furniture, barbecues, or anything else that the wind could pick up and throw around.

Wildfires

Glenn and Craig both caution listeners that wildfires aren’t just a western Canadian problem; fire country lies just outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) where many residents own cottages. Glenn points to the FireSmart program for comprehensive ways to prevent forest fires from spreading onto the home. He adds that managing fuel around the property, including cleaning up yard waste and forest litter and keeping outbuildings a good distance away are some of the ways you can keep fire away from the home structure.

For a more in-depth discussion of preventative measures that homeowners can take in the wake of severe climate change weather events, listen to the full episode here.