4 months later, derecho damage lingers on eastern Ontario farms

Third-generation eastern Ontario farmer David Spence is facing a winter where a quarter of his barn is missing, damaged by the derecho windstorm that struck the region on May 21.

Part of the tin roof of his machinery shed is curled in a tangle, a barn that would normally be packed with hay and strawis exposed to the elements and Spence has been doing the cleanup himself.

"Everybody's busy and there's nobody else out there that seems either to want to work or be able to do the work," Spence said.

Like many other farmers affected by the storm, he's been chasing his insurance companyand contractors for months with little success.

"We're neglected out here," Spence said.

Farmers can't operate on insurance company timeline

Scott Winfield, owner of the Brookson Farm in east Ottawa's Carlsbad Springs, said he's been trying to push ahead with work that needed to be done to the riding arena.

It was partially lifted by the winds and hit the nearby house.

He has booked contractors to start before the snow flies to try to limit losses at thehorseback riding academy.

"I don't have time on my side. It's working against me. Insurance company's got all the time in the world to pay out or figure out what they're going to do," Winfield said.

He said if they don't push to arrange contractors independently of their insurance, they won't have a building by the end of the year. Hehopesthe insurance will cover itbut said that's a risk some people aren't willing to take.

He's disappointed the province didn't declare Ottawa eligible for the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians programs in the aftermath of the derecho.

In a statement, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said itsassessment teams found most damage to homes and businesses was insured or a result of tree damage that isn't covered in the program.

"The province is overlooking one key factor, which is timeliness. What's the time frame for insurance to kick in? There's way too many people in my situation," Winfield said.

WATCH | The wait for insurance:

Some eastern Ontario farms forging ahead with derecho repairs while waiting on insurance

2 years ago

Duration 1:22

Scott Winfield, owner of Brookson Farm, says its been frustrating trying to work with his insurance company after the May 21 derecho, leaving him to move ahead with as much repair work as he can afford on his own.

Bureau points toinflation, supply chain

Denis Morris said he's never had an insurance claim in his life and has been frustrated and disappointed to have his property visited by contractors at least nine times between May and the end of September.

Part of his cattle barn's roof is missingabove the area where young calves are kept.

"When it does become a problem is once the nights getcolder. These calves are wet in the daytime and it gets cold at night, it's a chance for pneumonia and all these things," Morris said.

His machine shed was destroyed he was caught inside it during the storm. He said it cost him thousands of dollars out of pocket to hire custom operators to do work he otherwise would have done with his own machines.

Morris said some construction material hadbeen delivered to one of his properties in October.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said factors outside of insurance companies'control could lead to service delays in the wake ofdamage caused by the May 21 storm.

The IBC pointed to inflation pressures and supply chain disruptions, as well as the high volume of work related to the storm.

It recommends keeping receipts for temporary repairs that are meant to prevent future damage.