The storms that hit the GTA and southern Ontario on September 2 and 3, 2026 caused an estimated $563 million in insured damage, according to Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) figures released October 14. Whether your storm damage insurance claim in Ontario is paid depends on how the damage happened: wind and hail are typically covered by a standard home policy, but sewer backup and overland flooding are covered only if you bought those optional add-ons, and a damaged car is covered only if you carry optional coverage such as comprehensive. If a claim stalls, Ontario has a formal escalation path that starts with your insurer’s complaint officer.

What happened in the September 2026 storms?

On September 2 and 3, 2026, heavy rain, flash flooding, high winds and damaging hail swept across the Greater Toronto Area and southern Ontario. IBC says tens of thousands of residents were affected, with many reports of shattered windows, skylights and vehicle windshields.

On October 14, IBC released the first estimate from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ): $563 million in insured damage. That is an initial estimate, so the final figure may change as claims are settled.

For context, IBC reports that the July 16, 2024 flash flooding in Toronto and southern Ontario caused almost $900 million in insured damage. One year later, 92% of those claims were closed. Large events take time to work through, and an adjuster may not reach you as quickly as usual.

The longer-term trend points the same way. Statistics Canada found that homeowners’ home and mortgage insurance premiums rose 45.0% between December 2019 and December 2025, compared with 21.0% for overall consumer prices. CatIQ data cited by IBC shows flood and water-related insured losses over the last 20 years are more than 300% higher than in the previous two decades. (We look at what drives premiums in How Ontario’s Changing Climate Is Impacting Home Insurance Rates; this post is about getting your claim paid.)

Which policy covers your storm damage insurance claim in Ontario?

The cause of the damage decides which coverage applies. Here is how the most common September storm damage maps to policy types, based on IBC’s consumer guidance. Your own wording, limits and deductibles always govern.

Is sewer backup or flood damage covered by home insurance in Ontario?

Only if you added it. IBC is clear that “damages from overland flooding, sewer backup, and earthquakes are optional and must be added to a standard insurance policy.”

The distinction matters after a storm like this one, because a flooded basement can come from either source:

• Sewer backup is water or sewage pushed back into your home through floor drains, toilets or sinks, for example when municipal sewers are overwhelmed.
• Overland flooding is surface water, such as heavy rain or an overflowing creek, that enters at or above ground level.

You can have one endorsement without the other, and each has its own limit. [CONFIRM: The question our brokers hear most after a storm is whether a flooded basement counts as “sewer backup” or “flood”. Replace with a real anonymised example if you have one.] Pull out your policy declarations page and look for both endorsements and their limits before you speak to an adjuster.

Standard home policies usually also cover water that escapes suddenly and accidentally from plumbing, heating or appliances. That is a separate cause from storm water and is not the same as flood coverage. Review your home insurance options with a broker if you are unsure which water coverages you carry.

Does car insurance cover hail damage in Ontario?

Yes, if you bought the right optional coverage. Storm damage to your own vehicle falls under optional physical damage coverage. IBC notes that “damage to vehicles from wind or water may be covered if you purchased the optional coverage.”

According to IBC’s coverage descriptions:

• Comprehensive covers all perils except collision, upset and a few named exclusions. IBC’s own example is wind-blown debris; because comprehensive covers every peril not excluded, hail and water damage generally fall here too. Confirm in your policy.
• Specified perils covers only the listed causes. IBC lists hail, windstorm and rising water among them.
• All perils responds to all causes of loss except listed exclusions, including collision.
• Collision alone does not cover hail or flood damage.

Check your auto insurance deductible, since smaller hail repairs may fall below it.

What about condo owners, tenants and businesses?

Condo owners. The condo corporation’s policy does not cover your personal contents. Your unit policy covers contents, improvements you made to the unit and personal liability. Sewer backup and overland water are optional add-ons for unit owners too. If your building was damaged, ask your broker how your condo insurance would respond if the corporation passes costs on to unit owners.

Tenants. Your belongings need your own policy. A tenant insurance policy covers your possessions and, like other standard home policies, includes additional living expenses if an insured loss makes your unit unlivable.

Businesses. IBC notes that business interruption coverage is usually triggered by direct physical damage to your business, or damage to a neighbouring business that forces you to close. Losing power or customers alone may not qualify. Review your commercial property insurance with your broker if your premises were affected.

How to keep your storm damage insurance claim moving in Ontario

Our step-by-step guide to filing a home insurance claim covers the full process. After a regional storm, these points matter most:

1. Report it now. Contact your broker or insurer as soon as possible, even if repairs will wait. Your policy sets time limits for notice and proof of loss.
2. Document before cleanup. Take photos and video, and list damaged items with descriptions, estimated values and purchase dates.
3. Keep damaged items unless they are a health hazard, because your insurer may need to inspect them.
4. Save every receipt for emergency repairs, cleanup, hotels and meals. These may be reimbursed.
5. Expect a proof of loss form. It lists everything damaged or lost with its estimated value.
6. Start repairs once the claim is approved, with your choice of contractor. IBC says you are free to choose your own; just confirm the contractor is licensed and insured, and tell your adjuster about any scope changes.

What if your storm damage insurance claim in Ontario is denied or delayed?

Start with your insurer’s own complaint process. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) sets out these steps:

1. Contact your insurer’s complaint officer and follow its process. Keep notes of every conversation, including dates, times and names. Ask for a final position letter, which is the insurer’s final decision.
2. Get advice or an independent review. For home, auto and business insurance, contact IBC’s Consumer Information Centre (1-844-227-5422) for advice. For an independent review, go to the General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) or, for mutual insurers, the Mutual Insurance Companies OmbudService (MICO).
3. Report a regulatory breach to FSRA if you believe the insurer broke a rule. FSRA usually needs the final position letter first.

FSRA can investigate whether rules were followed and take enforcement action, but it cannot settle a contract dispute or get you compensation. If you used a broker and have a concern about the broker, the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) regulates brokers and lets you check a broker’s licence.

Can you get government help in Ontario after a storm?

Possibly, but it is not a substitute for insurance. Ontario’s Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program helps with essential costs only in areas the province activates after a specific event. Insurance payments are deducted from eligible costs, and sewer backup damage is eligible only for low-income households because sewer backup insurance is widely available.

As of October 15, 2026, Ontario’s program page did not list an activation for the September GTA storms. Check ontario.ca for updates or call the program at 1-877-822-0116.

What the storms mean for your next renewal

A claim can affect your future premiums, and so can losses across the whole market. Before your renewal, ask your broker three questions: Do I have sewer backup and overland water coverage? What are the limits? Would a backwater valve or sump pump qualify me for a better rate? If your auto renewal has also jumped, our guide to car insurance renewal in Ontario explains what to check.

If you are an AAXEL client with September storm damage, contact us through our claims page and we will help you through the process.

FAQ

How much damage did the September 2026 GTA storms cause? The storms on September 2 and 3, 2026 caused an estimated $563 million in insured damage across the GTA and southern Ontario. The figure is an initial estimate from CatIQ, released by Insurance Bureau of Canada on October 14, 2026, and may change as claims settle.

Does home insurance in Ontario cover wind and hail damage? Standard home insurance typically covers wind and hail, according to IBC. The cover applies to the exterior of the building. Rain damage inside is generally covered only if the storm first created an opening, such as a broken window or skylight.

Is a flooded basement covered by home insurance in Ontario? Only if you bought the right add-on. Water backing up through drains needs sewer backup coverage, and surface water entering from outside needs overland water or flood coverage. Neither is included in a standard policy.

Does car insurance cover hail damage in Ontario? Only if you carry optional physical damage coverage, such as comprehensive, all perils or specified perils. Collision coverage alone does not cover hail. Your deductible applies, so small repairs may cost less than the deductible.

Will my insurance pay for a hotel if I cannot live in my home after a storm? Standard homeowner, condo and tenant policies include additional living expenses when an insured loss makes your home unlivable. Coverage typically lasts until the home is habitable again or you reach your policy limit. Keep every receipt.

Does business insurance cover lost income after a storm? Business interruption coverage can pay for lost income, but it is usually triggered by direct physical damage to your business or to a neighbouring business that forces you to close. Check your policy wording with your broker.

What should I do if my storm damage claim is denied or delayed? Start with your insurer’s complaint officer and ask for a final position letter. If you are still unsatisfied, you can contact IBC’s Consumer Information Centre for advice, the General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) or MICO for an independent review, and FSRA if you believe a rule was broken.

Can FSRA force my insurer to pay my claim? No. FSRA can check whether an insurer followed the law and take enforcement action, but it cannot settle contract disputes, issue refunds or obtain compensation for you.

Is government disaster assistance available for the September 2026 storms? As of October 15, 2026, Ontario had not listed an activation of Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians for the September GTA storms. The program applies only in activated areas, deducts insurance payments, and covers sewer backup only for low-income households.

Can I choose my own contractor for storm repairs? Yes. IBC says you are free to choose your own contractor, though insurers often offer a list of preferred vendors. Confirm the contractor is licensed and insured, and tell your adjuster about any change in the scope of work.

Sources

All pages were opened and read on October 15, 2026.

Disclaimer

This article is general information about insurance in Ontario as of October 15, 2026. It is not advice about your policy. Coverage depends on your policy wording, endorsements, limits and deductibles. Speak with a licensed insurance broker or your insurer about your situation.