Your ability to respond to a disaster and manage its aftermath comes down to the three P’s of preparedness: Plan, prep and pack.
The first step is to plan for various disasters and hazardous events, as well as know how to effectively respond which can help minimize damage and recovery time. The BC Provincial Emergency Program monitors natural risks and other catastrophic conditions. In addition, it’s important to be aware of The Top 10 Hazards in BC, which include avalanches, chemical spills/hazardous material releases, contagious disease outbreaks, earthquakes, flooding, landslides, severe weather, storm surges, tsunamis and wildfires.
Similar to extreme weather events, the number of wildfires has been increasing at an alarming rate. Over the past few years, the wildfire season has lasted longer and has become more destructive. In 2023, there were 6,623 wildfires throughout Canada that devastated more than 18 million acres of land.
The second step involves your plan’s prep work, which should include such things as:
- Be aware of potential weather conditions and/or other hazards.
- Know where to find important information for quick retrieval.
- How to communicate during power outages or when cellphones are not available.
- Have a predetermined emergency meeting place.
- Organize medications and other items for family members with special needs or mobility limitations.
- Research insurance options.
For example, understand the likelihood of a wildfire in your area. Natural Resources Canada maintains the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS), which monitors fire danger conditions and fire occurrences across Canada.
Consider downloading and following guidelines available from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and follow the Government of Canada's preparedness guidelines, which include:
- Prepare and practice a wildfire evacuation plan.
- Subscribe to local emergency notification and evacuation systems.
- Monitor evolving situations and do not hesitate to follow instructions from local authorities.
- If ordered to evacuate, do so immediately and follow recommendations.
The third step is pack. Whether you’ll need to shelter in place or immediately vacate your premises, you should have a home emergency kit or a grab-and-go bag at the ready. Consider leaving these kits in an accessible location, such as your car or office. For more information on what to pack in these kits, check out Build an Emergency Kit and Grab-and-Go Bag - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
Insurance Considerations Strata Corporations and Unit Owners
- It is critically important to purchase property insurance with adequate limits of coverage. Having an annual property appraisal moves risk away from the strata corporation. It protects the owners if the property is deemed a major or total loss in a hazardous event. Strata councils should pick an accredited company specializing in insurance appraisals and ensure the value sets the limit of coverage.
- Remember that not all policies are equal when choosing a strata insurance package. We recommend selecting a comprehensive all-risk policy. If you are considering switching providers, ask about policy conditions, exclusions and limitations. A policy is only as good as the claims it will pay.
- Strata homeowners and renters are strongly advised to purchase separate insurance to meet their needs. Insurance for the strata corporation is different from strata homeowner or tenant insurance.
When it comes to personal insurance, it's essential to understand the coverage provided in your policy. Additional Living Expenses (ALE) is a coverage found in most insurance policies, typically within homeowner and renter insurance. It helps policyholders with the costs of temporary accommodations, meals and other necessary living expenses if their home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, such as a fire, disaster or extensive water damage.
There are different categories of ALE claims. We recommend you talk to your broker to understand your current coverage, limits and exclusions. For example, ask your broker if you are you covered in the following scenarios:
- Access to your home is prohibited because a civil authority has ordered a mass evacuation.
- Access to your home is prohibited as a direct result of damage to neighbouring premises.
- Your contents are damaged by an insured peril (e.g., flood or related damage).
With more than 1.5 million people living in strata communities in British Columbia, we need to plan and prepare individually and collectively with our neighbours. Think about forming an emergency response committee in your strata. HUB’s detailed Crisis Resource Centre can help you get started with access to guides, tips, checklists and other information to assist you in preparing and responding to a catastrophic event
The Strata Property Act also has special provisions on handling emergencies, ensuring safety and preventing losses that can be found here.
Other Articles & Resources
Government of Canada – Natural Resources