Insurance: Why it matters

Whether you rent or own, insurance is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of an emergency.

Having insurance in place can protect you from having to pay full replacements costs in the event your home, appliances, furniture and valuables are destroyed from fire, flooding, earthquake or other emergency events.

Check your insurance first

If you need to leave your home due to an Evacuation Order, homeowner and tenant insurance policies will typically cover accommodation and other living expenses for a period of time. Be sure to include a copy of your insurance policy in your grab-and-go bag so you have it on hand during an emergency. If you don’t have insurance, Emergency Support Services may be available to provide support to cover basic living essentials, such as food, accommodation, clothing and/or incidentals, depending on your needs.

Not all hazards are covered the same

It’s important to discuss coverage with an insurance company representative so you understand what your coverage includes – and what is does not.

Make sure your home, vehicle, business and belongings are protected. It may be difficult to obtain or renew insurance once there is a wildfire or other emergency in your region.

To check your insurance coverage and explore available options, call the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844-227-5422 or visit http://ibc.ca/bc.

If your insurance does not cover your damages and losses, other programs such Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) may provide support to replace personal items, building repairs and debris removal.

Generally speaking, DFA does not cover insurable damage caused by:

  • wildfires
  • earthquakes
  • snow load
  • wind storms
  • sewer or sump pit back-up
  • water entry from above ground

Future changes to DFA regulations

The Province intends to update the DFA program. Broad consultations on the DFA program were held between October 2023 and January 2024, and feedback received will be used to develop a new regulation to be introduced in 2025. For now, the program continues to be administered under the Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance regulation.