Damage caused by hurricane Fiona in Canada
Hurricane Fiona is ravaging communities in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec. Homes and buildings were severely damaged and destroyed, as were small artisan ports vital to fishing and coastal communities. Extreme weather is a major cause of the loss of so-called ghost gear such as nets, lines, ropes, traps, flower pots and buoys, and Fiona ensures that most of this gear is lost in the Atlantic. These lost gear cost fishermen money to replace and also pose a serious threat to the marine environment.
Tree damage is widespread in Nova Scotia, with many large trees falling on cars and buildings in Halifax. Major damage occurred on Cape Breton Island and Pictou County, including extensive flooding, blown roofs on buildings, washed out roads and storm surges. More than 415,000 customers were without power in Nova Scotia on Saturday, September 24, and about 80 percent of the province was without power.
Impact of the hurricane on the economy
In a video news conference Monday, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said the economic damage from Fiona is expected to exceed previous storms. Houston also announced about $40 million in provincial aid to those directly affected by the storm.
In an advisory issued before the storm, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) vice president Amanda Dean warned that “even a hurricane that has weakened significantly has enough winds to cause widespread damage.” IBC reminds homeowners in affected areas. You can contact your insurance agent to learn more about what property damage is covered by insurance.
Hurricane Fiona devastated Prince Edward Island, with damage reported across the island. The damage included houses being torn from their foundations by storm surge and roofs being torn from buildings by the wind. As of Sunday, September 25, trees and power lines were damaged or snapped/uprooted across the island, leaving 82,000 customers without power. This accounts for 95% of all customers on the island. Severe beach erosion has also affected much of the northern coast.