How you can help protect your home against natural disasters

• Flash floods and torrential rains
• Wildfires
• Tornadoes, hurricanes, tropical storms and high winds
• Hailstorms

Radar is here to help

Radar^TM, a severe weather alert service, is available for free on the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto app External link.. It will notify you – in real time – of severe weather in your area. Unlike a typical weather app, Radar identifies risks such as high winds, hail, heavy rains and fire within a 500-metre radius of your home (up to 5 locations total), which gives you the opportunity to protect your family, home and vehicle before disaster strikes.

4 types of natural disasters and how you can help protect your home against them  

Extreme weather events such as floods, wildfires, windstorms and hail are becoming more frequent. They're also becoming more intense and causing more (and more expensive) damage. But whatever the weather is like where you live, there are steps you can take to prevent damage to your home. 

For example, did you know how important it is to clean out your eavestroughs? Clean gutters enable water runoff to be directed away from your home (ideally with the help of downspouts pointed at least 2 metres away from your foundation). This can help protect against flooding, which can happen during weather events such as torrential rains, hurricanes and hailstorms. At the same time, by eliminating debris such as dry leaves, pine needles and branches, you’re helping to reduce your fire risk!

Check out these tips for more ways to protect your home.

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in Canada, and one of the costliest too.¹ Did you know that water damage is the number one type of home insurance claim in Canada?²

While some areas are considered flooding hot spots, flooding can happen almost anywhere, at almost any time of year. That said, the spring thaw is the most common root cause, followed closely by heavy rains, which are being fuelled by climate change. 

How you can help protect against flooding

If you live in a flood zone, and even if you don't, here are some steps you can take to prevent or minimize water damage to your home and property. 

3 basic steps you can take:

• Keep valuables and important documents in a waterproof container.

• Make sure your basement floor drains are clear and unobstructed.

• Reduce your water use during and immediately after heavy rainfalls. 

3 steps that require a little DIY spirit:

• Add a plastic window well cover as an extra barrier against water.

• Disconnect your downspouts if they empty directly into your municipal sewer system.

• Seal basement windows to prevent leaks.

3 steps that might require professional help:

• Install a sump pump with a back-up power supply.

• Install a backwater valve and have it cleaned out twice a year, in the spring and fall.

• Grade the ground around your home so it slopes away from your foundation for at least 2 metres (6 feet). 

How insurance can offer peace of mind against flood risks

Your standard home insurance policy covers accidental water damage to your home. This type of damage is caused by things like water main breaks and damage from an overflowing bathtub. But we offer other types of coverage you might be able to add for extra peace of mind.³

4 optional flooding-related endorsements we offer: 

• Ground water or sewer backup (Endorsement 16c): provides protection if, for example, your city sewers overflow and cause water to back up into your basement.

• Flooding from an overflowing body of water (Endorsement 16d): provides protection if, for example, a river overflows and damages your belongings.

• Endorsement 51: provides coverage for the cost of tearing up and repairing the ground to replace a broken exterior water service line on your property, for example.

• Above ground water and weight of ice, snow or sleet (Endorsement 42): offers protection if, for example, a window breaks during a storm and the water damages your floor and belongings.   

Build back better and stronger

We offer up to $1,000 to help pay for a sump pump with a back-up power supply or a backwater valve if your property is covered by Endorsement 16c and you've had losses due to a sewer back-up.³

Wildfires, also known as forest fires or wildland fires, destroy hundreds of homes and displace thousands of people every year. Since so much of our country is densely forested, many regions are threatened by wildfires, especially when conditions are dry. With climate change bringing on longer, drier summers, we're seeing more of these devastating fires each year.  

How you can help protect against wildfires

Though wildfires can spread quickly, there are pre-emptive steps you can take to reduce the risk of fire damage to your home. And by sharing these steps with friends and neighbours, you can collectively work to make your community safer, since reducing the risk for one reduces the risk for all. 

3 basic steps you can take:

• Rake up and get rid of branches, pine needles and dead leaves around your home in the spring and fall.

• Mow the lawn around your home to no more than 10 centimetres.

• Close your windows if you leave your home.

3 steps that require a little DIY spirit:

• Make sure combustible materials, such as firewood, are stored at least 1.5 metres away from your home.

• Replace highly flammable evergreens (like spruce and cedar) within 10 metres of your home with fire-resistant leafy trees (like poplar or maple). 

• Replace wood chips, bark or rubber mulch within 1.5 metres of any buildings with non-combustible alternatives like pebbles. 

3 steps that might require professional help:

• Replace unrated or older roofing with fire-resistant materials.

• Repair attic vents, loose soffits, and gaps around doors and windows and, if possible, block any openings that burning embers could get through.

• Replace combustible siding with fire-resistant siding, such as brick or steel.  

How insurance can offer peace of mind against wildfires

Your home insurance covers property damage, which includes damage from fires, including wildfires. Some policies also cover additional living expenses you may incur if you have to leave your home due to an evacuation order.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, tropical storms and high winds can leave a trail of destruction in their wake. 

Tornadoes are most common between April and September, though they can occur year-round. They tend to pop up suddenly, but there are often warning signs, like severe thunderstorms, a rumbling sound, a funnel cloud formation, and the classic: dark skies with a greenish tinge. 

These types of events are becoming more commonplace, with the highest risk of tornadoes in southern Ontario and Quebec, the Atlantic provinces and the Prairies.⁴ Fierce winds can rip even heavy items off the ground and hurl them through the air, causing damage to people and property. 

How you can help protect against tornadoes, hurricanes, tropical storms and high winds

Tornado wind speeds can be as high as 500 km/h. They can topple trees, flatten homes, and overturn vehicles. But we've got some tips to help you keep your home and family safe from wind damage.

3 basic steps you can take:

• Secure patio furniture, barbecues, garbage cans and other possible projectiles (stack furniture against a wall, attach to a sturdy structure with bungee cords, bring inside, etc.).

• Park your car in a garage, if possible, or as far as you can from trees, streetlights and power lines.

• Before a storm, make sure your windows, shutters, and doors are all closed and locked. 

3 steps that require a little DIY spirit:

• Prune dead or damaged branches from trees so they don't break off and cause damage.

• Inspect your roof for loose shingles so they won't get torn off.

• Make sure your siding is sealed properly to prevent wind from getting underneath and tearing it off the building.  

3 steps that may require professional help:

• Install impact-resistant windows or storm shutters.

• Have trees that are too close to your home removed.

• Install Class 4 impact-resistant roofing for the best protection against high winds. 

How insurance can provide peace of mind against tornados, hurricanes and wind damage

Most home insurance policies cover damage from high winds, hurricanes and tornadoes, such as: 

• Damage caused by flying debris and fallen trees

• Damage to your home and possessions caused by water entering through sudden openings caused by wind or hail

Damaging hailstorms generally only occur in Canada between May and October, with July being the most active month. They can occur anywhere, though severe hailstorms occur more frequently in the southern Prairies, southern Ontario, and especially Alberta. 

Intense hailstorms are becoming more frequent and can cause significant damage to your home and vehicle. Hailstorms are usually very short-lived, but they can develop quickly and be very destructive.

How you can help protect against hailstorms

Hailstones can be as small as pebbles and as big as baseballs, but all types of hail, even the smallest pellets, can cause serious damage in just minutes. But there are steps you can take to prepare your home for a hailstorm. 

3 basic steps you can take:

• Park your vehicles inside a garage or cover them with a thick blanket.

• Cover outdoor items such as barbecues and patio furniture or store them indoors. 

• Close drapes, blinds, or window shades to prevent shards of glass from blowing across your home.

3 steps that require a little DIY spirit:

• Install window safety film to help prevent glass from shattering.

• Check your roof for missing shingles and water damage. 

• Add storm shutters to your windows. 

3 steps that may require professional help:

• Add an underlayment, also known as an ice and water shield, under your roof covering.

• Install impact-resistant windows and skylights.

• Hire a building inspector to assess your home's ability to withstand hail and other hazards.

How insurance can offer peace of mind against hailstorms

Damage to your home caused by hail is generally covered by your all-risk home insurance, though damage to trees, plants and lawns isn't. And damage to vehicles from hail is usually covered if you have All Perils car insurance.

Build back better and stronger

In some hail prone areas in Alberta, we offer up to $2,500 to help replace your entire roof with Class 4 asphalt shingles following a covered loss.⁵

General tips to stay safe during a natural disaster

To keep your family safe in the event of a natural disaster, it's important to have an emergency plan, and an emergency kit to go with it. Knowing what to do makes everyone—even kids—feel empowered. 

Keep your family safe – have an emergency plan

One of the most important things you can do to prepare for an emergency is to have a plan for how to stay safe. With an emergency plan, everyone will know what their responsibilities are, they'll know where to go to be safe and to meet up, and they'll have the tools they need to take care of each other.

Keep your family safe – prepare an emergency kit

It's a good idea to set aside enough supplies to take care of yourself and your family for 72 hours after an emergency. Some key items to include in your emergency kit External link. are:

• Water (2 to 4 litres per person)

• Canned food and an opener, energy bars and other non-perishable foods

• A flashlight and extra batteries

• A first-aid kit

The Insurance Bureau of Canada External link. has a detailed checklist you can use to create your own emergency plan and kit.

Prepare for the worst (but hope for the best!)

As you've probably noticed, many of the steps you can take to protect your home against a given climate event can actually protect against multiple events. So why not start today? Small improvements to your home's safety can pay off big time. 

Prevention tools  

There are also prevention tools, such as Radar, available, that can help you get ready for severe weather. Radar is a weather alert service that can pinpoint severe weather risks for up to 5 specific addresses and send you alerts so you can prepare.

Filing a home insurance claim

If, despite your best efforts, you do have to file a claim, don't worry. We make it easy and are here to guide you through the process. 

If you bought your insurance through a Desjardins Agent, they can take care of your claim for you. You can file a claim online, if that's easier, or over the phone. We know it's a stressful time, so it's our goal to help however we can.

One thing you can do to make the process easier for yourself is to keep a good home inventory checklist. It’s a detailed list of everything you own, and ideally is backed up by receipts, descriptions, or pictures of all your things. 

Weather the storms

By informing yourself of the kinds of climate events that are common in your region, staying on top of weather alerts, and making your home more resilient, you can improve the odds of your home's survival.

These tips are provided for information and prevention purposes only. They are general in nature, and Desjardins Insurance cannot be held liable for them. We recommend using caution and consulting an expert for comprehensive, tailored advice.

In Quebec, Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins General Insurance Inc. In Ontario and Alberta, Desjardins Insurance refers to Certas Direct Insurance Company, underwriter of automobile and property insurance.

Some conditions, exclusions and limitations may apply. The conditions of the coverages described are set out in the insurance policy, which always prevails.

Radar^TM is a trademark of Desjardins General Insurance Group Inc., used under licence.

¹ Floods: Information & Facts - Canadian Red Cross External link.

² Water damage – Infoinsurance.ca (infoassurance.ca) External link.

³ Certain conditions, exclusions and limitations may apply. Rates and discounts are subject to change or termination without notice. Rates and discounts are based on each client's profile and are subject to eligibility conditions.

⁴ Wind and tornado protection (ibc.ca) External link.

⁵ Certain conditions, exclusions and limitations may apply. Rates and discounts are subject to change or termination without notice. Rates and discounts are based on each client's profile and are subject to eligibility conditions.