Claims filed in Alberta hailstorm aftermath

Massive storm in southeastern Alberta causes significant damage to crops and reported deaths of livestock

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Published: 16 hours ago

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Dark storm clouds over a pasture with a page wire fence in the foreground.

The numbers are still coming in for the cost of the damage caused by a huge hail storm that hit various areas of Alberta Aug. 20.

The storm ripped its way through vast swaths of land from Cayley, Milo and Brooks to the Saskatchewan border, as well as Camrose to the Viking, Edberg, Sedgewick, and Hughenden areas.

“It is too early to know the full scope of the damage because clients are continuing to scout their damage and file claims,” Yves Dooper, claims adjusting co-ordinator with Agriculture Financial Services Corp., wrote in an email.

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“Claims will likely continue to come in over the next few days. Clients have 14 days after a storm to report hail damage to (AFSC.)”

Early evening on Aug. 20, Environment Canada tracked a fast-moving super cell that resulted in ball-sized hail and wind gusts topping out at 149 km-h in some regions, causing significant damage to crops and reported deaths of some livestock. The hail storm also resulted in numerous power outages and Highway 1 being closed for a stretch from Brooks to Bassano according to Lethbridge News Now. Damage included multiple vehicle collisions and downed power lines.

Producers with AFSC hail insurance can take the following steps following a storm:

  • Check their fields for damage. If they have damage, they will need to file their claim within 14 days of the storm, and this can be done through AFSC Connect.
  • A minimum of 10 per cent damage is required to initiate a claim, and there must be at least 10 per cent hail damage on each spot-loss area for those areas to quality for payment.
  • Producers planning to harvest or silage hail damaged fields prior to the adjuster inspection are encouraged to contact their AFSC branch office for directions on leaving inspection strips for the adjuster.

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