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June flooding in Alberta called costliest natural disaster in Canadian history

Members of the RCMP return from a boat patrol of a still flooded neighborhood in High River, Alta., July 4, 2013.
Members of the RCMP return from a boat patrol of a still flooded neighborhood in High River, Alta., July 4, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY – Property damage caused by flooding in southern Alberta this year is now estimated to be over $1.7 billion, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

The association says they are still dealing with claims, and expect that number to go even higher.

They released their preliminary estimate of insured losses on Monday, saying over 25,000 claims have been filed in the wake of June flooding which forced thousands of people from their homes.

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The numbers were calculated by Property Claim Services Canada.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the devastating flooding is costliest natural disaster in Canadian history.

“It used to be that the largest threat to a person’s home was fire,” says Bill Adams, Insurance Bureau of Canada Vice-President, Western and Pacific. “That’s long since been surpassed by water-related issues, largely the result of Mother Nature.”

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It will have an update on property damage estimates in 60 days.

Video: Flood experts gathered in Calgary Sunday to discuss how to prepare for another big flood in our city. Those who participated in the summit, all agree another major flood will happen at some point in the future. Carolyn Kury de Castillo reports.

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