Edmonton's Wettest June Since 1914: What the Flood Claims Will Reveal
Reports put Edmonton near 244 mm of rain — its wettest June since 1914 — with a nearby flood emergency and more rain forecast. Clients are filing water claims and learning that overland flood coverage is not automatic.
Water is where expectations and wording collide
Heavy rain and overwhelmed drainage produce a wave of water-damage claims, and water is the coverage clients understand least. Overland flood and sewer backup are typically separate endorsements, not automatic inclusions on an Alberta policy.
A client who bought one often assumes they have both, right up until an adjuster explains the difference.
The brokers who come out of this well
When claims spike, the brokers who protect their books are the ones who can explain, quickly and plainly, what is covered, what is not, and why. Clarity in the first phone call is what keeps a stressed client from becoming an angry one.
Confirm each client's actual endorsements and limits against their policy before stating what applies — wordings and options vary by carrier.
The best time to send the message
The ideal "here is what your policy actually covers" note goes out before the storm. The second-best time is today, while the topic is top of mind and clients are paying attention.
The takeaway: A record-wet stretch is a prompt to remind clients that overland flood and sewer backup are separate, optional coverages — before they find out at claim time.