Hailstorm generated 3,736 MPI claims

Killarney and Boissevain recorded the highest concentration of hail-damage claims in Westman following a July 5 storm, Manitoba Public Insurance told the Sun.

The storm generated thousands of vehicle damage reports across southwestern Manitoba, with 3,736 claims opened by customers in the region.

Killarney and Boissevain together accounted for more than two-thirds of those claims, with 1,735 and 800 claims, respectively. Wawanesa recorded 239 claims, while Brandon and Kenton followed with 137 and 97 claims each.

“The July 5 storm resulted in the most claims related to a single storm in the Westman region in over a decade,” MPI communications manager Kristy Rydz said.

“Eighty-nine per cent of impacted customers in the region have requested an estimate appointment and MPI has completed estimates for 81 per cent of all claims reported in the area.”

The number continues to change daily as more estimates are completed, she said. About 240 customers in the Killarney, Wawanesa and Boissevain regions who have opened a claim with MPI have not yet requested an estimate appointment.

To manage the high volume of claims in the two hardest-hit communities, MPI has continued to operate mobile estimating sites in Killarney and Boissevain.

Those services will remain available throughout the fall, with appointments available as early as next week, Rydz said.

“The corporation has contacted all customers who have requested an estimate,” she said.

Customers who have opened claims but have not yet arranged an appointment are being encouraged to contact MPI’s Contact Centre at 1-800-665-2410.

Rydz said appointment availability can fluctuate according to demand, but MPI is monitoring the number of outstanding claims and adjusting its resources where necessary.

“MPI has deployed its mobile estimating services and adjusted resources to make more appointments available to customers where they need them to help address this localized demand,” Rydz said.

Most of the estimates already completed in Westman were conducted through the mobile estimating locations.

The 81 per cent completion rate means Westman is currently ahead of the provincial average, although hundreds of claims remain in the system.

Boissevain endured two major weather events between the end of June and July 5, chief administrative officer Leo Poulin said at the time.

“The community was still recovering from flash flooding earlier in the week when another storm struck Sunday evening (July 5),” Poulin told the Sun. “We had flash flooding, then a power outage, and we watched the sky darken before the hailstorm arrived.”

He said the hailstones were up to two inches in diameter, smashing windows, denting vehicles and damaging roofs and outdoor furniture.

“Every street was flooded,” he said. “It looked like a scene from ‘Jumanji’ with tree branches everywhere.”

Boissevain resident Jonah Neufeld said the hail damage affected his vehicle.

“My car has significant hail damage on the roof, hood and windshield,” Neufeld told the Sun in July. “I’ve made a claim with MPI, and I know many other folks from town have as well.”

MPI has not set a specific date for completing every outstanding claim in the region.

The corporation will continue to monitor claim volumes and “make operational adjustments as necessary” so that customers can move through the claims process as quickly as possible, Rydz said.

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