The severe weather that marked 2009 has been as costly as it has been unpredictable, according to Insurance Bureau of Canada. IBC added that it has also brought home the lesson that urgent action is needed throughout the country to manage the impact of climate change.

Experts at the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen in December confirmed the problem is global. A report from the Belgium-based Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters , noted that 224 out of 245 international disasters this year were weather-related, causing $15 billion in economic damages.

While severe weather events brought losses to many communities across Canada, IBC cited these three as examples of how costly the insured damage can be:

Alberta windstorms

Deadly windstorms pummeled Alberta August 1-3, resulting in an estimated $365 million in insurance payouts.

Ottawa and Hamilton, Ontario rainstorms

Severe storms dumped torrential rains on the Ottawa and Hamilton regions July 24-26 causing $196 million in insurance payouts. Residents and emergency personnel dealt with power outages, fallen trees, damaged roofs and widespread sewer backups.

Vaughan, Ontario tornadoes

On August 20 a series of tornadoes struck the Greater Toronto Area terrifying residents, demolishing homes and causing insurance payouts exceeding $76 million.