CANADA S CLIMATE ADAPTATION GAP:

Transcription

1 CANADA S CLIMATE ADAPTATION GAP: FLOOD RISK MITIGATION AT THE HOUSEHOLD AND COMMUNITY LEVEL Source: Robert Deeks Dana Decent Manager, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation University of Waterloo ddecent@uwaterloo.ca Sept. 19, 2018 Generously supported by

2 2 Agenda 1. Rising Costs of Extreme Weather/Flooding 2. The Home Flood Protection Program 3. Standards for Flood-Resilient New and Existing Communities 4. The Mental Health Impacts of Flooding 5. Next Steps

3 $ Billion Note: Cost to government and homeowners 3-4X that of private insurers. Costs of Extreme Weather: Catastrophic Insurable Losses 3 Uninsurable Housing Market Growing Fort Mac Fire 5.0 Loss + Loss Adjustment Expenses Estimated Trend Eastern Ice Storm Alberta and Toronto Floods Quebec Floods Ontario Wind and Rain Loss + Loss Adjustment Expenses $ total natural-catastrophe losses normalized by inflation and per-capita wealth accumulation Courtesy: Insurance Bureau of Canada

4 Repeated Flooding Elevates Risk of Mortgage Defaults 4 Repeated Flooding Limited / No Flood Insurance Coverage Inability to Pay for Repairs Increased Risk of Mortgage Defaults After Windsor flood, residents learn they don't have insurance Serious flooding has happened more than once on some properties and there are people who can t get insurance. If we can improve their risk profile maybe they can get insurance.

5 5 Home Flood Protection Program Purpose: (1) Limit pathways for water to enter a home (2) Minimize damage if flooding occurs Home Assessment: minute onsite assessment that looks at approx. 50 points of potential water entry into the home and opportunities to reduce flood risk, e.g.: contouring to direct water away from foundation downspouts disconnected plastic covers over window wells back-up battery for sump-pump backwater valves valuables lifted off basement floor, etc. Homeowner is engaged in a problem-solving discussion, receives custom Home Flood Protection Assessment Report. Pilots in Burlington, ON and surrounding area, Toronto, ON and Saskatoon, SK.

6 Home Flood Risk Assessment Training Course 6 The 9,000 home inspectors in Ontario receive virtually no training on basement flood risk New Home Flood Risk Assessment Training Course offered through Fleming and Seneca College informed by the Home Flood Protection Program Course every Thursday b/t Sept 20 th Dec 20 th at Seneca College

7 Advancing Codes and Standards on Climate Adaptation 7 Flood Resiliency For Existing Communities Commercial Real Estate Climate / Extreme Weather Standard Home Flood Standard New Residential Flood Standard Existing Residential Flood Standard Electricity (T&D) Climate Standard CRE Climate Standard

8 8 Flood-Resilient Communities Canadian standard on Flood-Resilient Community Design for NEW communities being already adopted by developers in GTA Best practices implemented in cities across Canada (e.g. Kelowna) Informed new standard for EXISTING communities

9 The Role of Natural Infrastructure in Climate Adaptation 9 Intact Centre study found that keeping wetlands intact can reduce flood damage costs to buildings by nearly 40%. Framework developed to quantify other benefits of Natural Infrastructure (e.g drought reduction, higher water quality, habitat protection).

10 Flooding Has a Significant Mental Health Impact 10

11 Intact Centre Study: Health Impacts and Costs of Flooding 11 Purpose: Assessing mental and physical health impacts in flooded vs. non-flooded homes and associated costs. Project: 100 interviews with people who live in flood-affected neighbourhoods in Burlington, ON. Result: Days off work due to flooding and significant mental health impacts three years after a flood.

12 Quotes from People Whose Homes Flooded in the Last 3 Years 12 No health issues just my sanity I have PTSD from it [the flooding] I think of something I want and it s gone My kids still question me when it rains We mentally suffered more than anything else My business no doubt suffered We lost so much that was important to us I just hope nobody else goes through it, that s for sure

13 Assessment of Mental and Physical Health Impacts of Basement Flooding 13 Average time off work to clean up basement = 1 week ~3 Years On Responses to How Worried Do You Get When it Rains? Flooded Respondents (n=48) Non-Flooded Respondents (n=37) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% % of Respondents Who Gave a 4 or 5 on a Scale of 1-5 (1= not worried, 5 = very worried) It s something you never want to experience again in your life