Hail of a podcast – A look at the Calgary’s climate hazard concerns
CALGARY – Summer storms that wreak havoc on our city are becoming more frequent and more costly.
This episode of Calgary Conversations looks at hail season, how The City is responding, and what Calgarians can do to prepare and recover.
One of the most important things Calgarians can do to prepare for a hailstorm is to understand their insurance and be clear on what is and isn’t covered. Insurance rates and coverage have changed in recent years, and what was once covered may not be covered any longer.
Another way to prepare is to sign up for emergency alerts, so you can take quick action.
“Hail often comes with big convective storms. So, when you get that storm alert, that is when you park your car under cover, if you have that option, and move any patio furniture inside,” says Stacey Rector, Leader, Climate Resilience and Adaptation.
In the longer term, Rector says to think of more durable roofing or siding when building or renovating. A good city resource to learn how to improve your home’s resilience is The City’s Climate Ready Home Program, which can be found on the City’s website.
There is also a common assumption that the northeast gets the biggest hailstorms.
“We have a map of hailstorms in Calgary over the past 10 years, and every single corner of Calgary has been hit at some point in time,” says Rector. “The important thing to think about is that it is not just geography. It’s how we build and our capacity to prepare and recover.”
The City is working to learn more about these impacts through the Hail Resilience Program, which includes data mapping to make better decisions when building. The City is also working with partners – builders, roofers, insurers, the real estate industry – to identify opportunities to support Calgarians in improving their hail resilience.
“Hail affects everyone,” says Rector. “With hail risk increasing across the whole city, almost everyone has seen an increase in insurance premiums whether or not they have experienced a hailstorm. We all have a vested interest.”
But hail is not the only weather and climate impact facing Calgarians.
There are eight climate hazards of concern. Extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire smoke, intense precipitation, winter storms, shifting seasons and extreme storms, which include hail, are all threats and are becoming more frequent and more severe.
To hear more about preparing for hail and environmental impacts on our city, check out The City’s latest podcast at calgary.ca or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
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