Storms that battered WestMan, Winnipeg, and much of the rest of the province caused floods, destroyed property, damaged vehicles, and put Manitoba Public Insurance on pace to set all kinds of records that one generally does not want to set.
According to a release from MPI, the public insurer has already received over 20,000 claims related to storm activity from last week. They said this puts them on pace to set a new record for the most claims ever received from a single weather event.
“MPI expects claims will continue to be reported in the weeks and months ahead, which will increase the overall number of claims filed,” they said in their release. “MPI is reminding customers to please open their claims as soon as possible to help us fully understand the total number of claims and the overall impact of this event.”
In response, MPI said it has designated its Gateway Service Centre as a dedicated Hail Response Centre and will be offering initial damage assessments for storm-related claims at this location. Customers unsure about the extent of the damage to their vehicle, unsure if their vehicle is repairable, or owning a vehicle that is model year 2016 or earlier should choose this option. This service is open to customers from some communities outside Winnipeg, including Portage la Prairie.
Customers in all other areas of the province can complete their estimate at a Direct Repair shop or Authorized Paintless Dent Repair Facility, or book an estimate at an MPI Service Centre. Meanwhile, any customers whose vehicles cannot be driven due to storm damage should call MPI’s Contact Centre directly at 204-985-7000 or toll-free at 1-800-665-2410 to report their claim.
“Given the high volume of claims MPI continues to receive, customers may experience delays in processing their claim,” the release continued. “We know this can cause frustration and we are asking for patience during this time. We understand the impact this storm continues to have on our customers and the devastation that comes from experiencing damage to or loss of property. We want to assure our customers that we are working around the clock to process claims for those who are needing our support.”
