How much will wind storm clean-up cost? Only time will tell

bc.ctvnews.com
Aug. 30, 2015

Decades ago, James Dickson watched the tree outside his East Vancouver home be planted as a seedling.

On Saturday, wind gusts as high as 90 kilometres per hour brought that seedling - now a full-grown adult tree - down on the side of Dickson’s home.

Property owners around the Lower Mainland spent Sunday cleaning up trees like Dickson’s and other debris, and reflecting on what could have been.

"Thanks to God that everyone is fine, that no one is hurt," said Monty Bual, whose home in Surrey was hit by a large tree that fell from two houses away and slammed into his kitchen.

Homes were far from the only things damaged during the storm. On Sunday, ICBC announced that people whose vehicles were hit by falling trees and branches will be covered - provided the owners have comprehensive coverage.

Most cars hit by falling trees are likely to be written off, the insurance company says.

Insurance adjustors are not yet among the crews working to clean up the damage, but if past storms are any indication, this wind storm could end up costing millions.

The 2006 storm that did considerable damage to Stanley Park cost the insurance industry more than $100How much will wind storm clean-up cost? Only time will tell million.

More recently, the bill for the 2013 ice storm in Eastern Canada has hit $200 million and counting. Most of the damage in that storm was also due to fallen trees.