Hail damage could hit $1B: Nenshi
Mayor says ‘extraordinary’ storm among worst in Canadian history
The weekend storm that battered northeast Calgary likely damaged more homes than the 2013 flood, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Monday.
Heavy rain and tennis ball-sized hail dropped across parts of the city Saturday night, leaving shattered car windows, flooded neighbourhoods and tattered home exteriors in its wake.
Nenshi called it “one of the most severe summer storms we have had in Calgary in years — I would argue, in history.”
He said the “extraordinary” devastation could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, possibly totalling $1 billion. The city estimates that tens of thousands of homes were damaged.
“I would be very shocked if this isn’t a top-five insurable cost event in the history of Canada,” Nenshi said.
Coun. George Chahal, who represents many of the northeast communities that were hardest hit, said the hail damage is widespread and people are also cleaning up flood damage to their homes and businesses.
“Every car that I saw, particularly in the northern part of the ward, was a writeoff … This ain’t a few million dollars of damage.”
City council also heard an update from Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief Tom Sampson on Monday.
Sampson said as he surveyed the damage on Sunday, he was shocked by the destruction.
“It reminded me of movies, of houses strafed with gunfire.”
Sampson said the powerful storm caused widespread damage across Calgary, but the city’s northeast was by far the hardest hit.
“You could stand at an intersection and sweep your hand 360 degrees, and everywhere you pointed would be a damaged home, everywhere you pointed would be a damaged car.”
The storm was expected to be “moderate” at first, but it gained strength as it moved over the city. It generated the largest hail on record in the city, up to 61-millimetres across. At the storm’s peak,
Everywhere you pointed would be a damaged home, everywhere you pointed would be a damaged car.
water also overwhelmed major roadways.
Calgary fire Chief Steve Dongworth said crews did more than 20 water rescues, mostly for people who were stranded in cars on flooded streets. A house in Evanston was also struck by lightning.
City officials are looking at offering more help for people coping with repairs and insurance claims, and Nenshi said he spoke with Premier Jason Kenney about what resources area MLAS can provide.
The city plans to work with local non-profits to get people what they need, from notarizing documents to translation services.
“For a lot of folks, this is going to be their first time navigating through a complex insurance claim,” Nenshi said.