A Concerted Effort

The Claims Emergency Response Plan is the tool developed by IBC-Québec to stay in contact with the various groups that go into action during a major disaster. It enables IBC to make itself available at all times to victims, who are often shaken or overwhelmed by the experience, providing them with timely, accurate information.

The Claims Emergency Response Plan is a set of coordinated procedures and actions designed to promptly and efficiently assist victims of major disasters. It provides for:

• assessing any emergency situation in Québec, the moment it becomes known;
  
  
• assessing the coverage provided by standard contracts as it relates to the anticipated or known damage;
  
  
• consulting insurers as to the origin of events and amount of insurance coverage, and promoting continuous and clear diffusion of all necessary information;
  
  
• putting in place the necessary resources to communicate to the public relevant information on how to prevent and limit property damage, or on the claims process;
  
  
• co-ordinating insurers' efforts with those of other parties (ministries, municipalities, police forces, the Québec Public Security Department and others).

This plan is implemented as soon as the situation is known. IBC begins by examining standard contracts that could apply under the circumstances, then contacts insurers to round out the information on the types of coverage usually in effect. It then tries to reach the population as effectively as possible to provide information on how to limit damage, what precautions to take and how to request compensation.

Thus, within a very short time frame, IBC can inform the public via radio, television and newspapers. Until the situation returns to normal, IBC remains on alert and makes sure that policyholders' questions are answered.

The Claims emergency response plan system has proven itself repeatedly over the past years. Just think of the Maskinongé tornado in 1992, the Saguenay flood in 1996, the 1998 ice storm, and the 1999 tornado that struck Drummondville and Victoriaville.


Are you a victim?

Nature unleashed its fury and caused damage to your property. To find out about the coverage provided for in the event of natural disasters or for information on claim settlement, visit the www.infoinsurance.ca Web site.