Early September storms in the GTA and southern Ontario cause $563 million in insured damage

Insurers outline three steps governments must take to reduce flood risk and protect communities

TORONTO, Oct. 14, 2026 /CNW/ -- A series of late-summer severe storms that swept through the Greater Toronto Area and southern Ontario between September 2 and 3, caused $563 million in insured losses, according to initial estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). The storms brought intense rainfall, flash flooding, high winds and damaging hail that impacted tens of thousands of residents.

In addition to flood damage, wind and hail damage was extensive, with numerous reports of shattered windows, skylights and vehicle windshields. Immediately following the storm, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) deployed its Virtual Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (V-CAMP) helpline to provide residents with real-time, one-to-one insurance support as they began the recovery process.

Trained insurance industry personnel remain available through IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC (1-844-227-5422) and [email protected] to answer general questions about home, business or vehicle insurance.

"This summer's storms are another clear warning that severe weather is continuing to take a growing toll on communities across Canada," said Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Ontario and Atlantic, IBC. "Flooding of this scale is no longer unexpected, and we cannot continue to respond only after the damage is done. Governments must move faster to strengthen the infrastructure that protects communities, invest in measures that prevent losses before they happen and give Canadians the information they need to understand their flood risk. These actions are essential to protecting homes and businesses, limiting future losses and reducing long-term insurance costs."

IBC Calls for Urgent Action to Reduce Flood: 

Flooding is Canada's most frequent and costly natural disaster, and the trend is accelerating. Over the last 20 years, flood and water-related insured losses have increased more than 300% compared to the previous two decades, according to CatIQ.

To meaningfully reduce flood losses and their impact on insurance affordability, IBC is calling on governments to accelerate action in three key areas, including:

1. Invest in the infrastructure that protects communities
   Investing in stormwater systems, wastewater systems and drainage infrastructure is the most effective way to help reduce flood damage. But with an estimated $60-billion infrastructure deficit, many communities are continuing to rely on stormwater and drainage systems that were not designed for today's extreme weather.
   
   
2. Shift from recovery to prevention
   Flood prevention is one of the smartest investments governments can make. Measures such as home retrofits, backwater valves, sump pumps, stronger building codes and better land-use planning can help reduce flood losses and help avoid much larger repair costs from future disasters.
   
   
3. Give Canadians access to flood-risk information
   Canadians deserve to know their flood risk. Although the federal government developed Canada's Flood Risk Finder to help people understand their exposure to flooding, provincial governments have yet to make the tool available to residents. Expanding access would help Canadians make more informed decisions and better protect their homes.

The amount of insured damage is an estimate provided by CatIQ (www.catiq.com) under licence to IBC.

About Insurance Bureau of Canada

Established in 1964, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up the vast majority of Canada's highly competitive property and casualty (P&C) insurance market.

As the leading advocate for Canada's private P&C insurers, IBC collaborates with governments, regulators and stakeholders to support a competitive environment for the P&C insurance industry to continue to help protect Canadians from the risks of today and tomorrow.

IBC believes that Canadians value and deserve a responsive and resilient private P&C insurance industry that provides insurance solutions to both individuals and businesses.

For media releases, IN Focus articles or to book an interview with an IBC representative, visit ibc.ca. Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1‑844‑2ask-IBC. We're here to help.

SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada

Media contact: Brett Weltman, Manager, Media Relations, [email protected]