Natural hazards, particularly extra-tropical (winter storms) and tropical cyclones, could have devastating impacts on human life, structures, the environment, and the economy. It has not been long enough to forget the destructive impacts of the 1998 ice Storm and, more recently, the costly impact of Hurricane Irene in 2011. In terms of today's economy, the 1998 ice storm would have caused insured and economic losses of about three and six billion Canadian dollars (CAD), respectively. More recently, Hurricane Irene left an impact across Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, causing approximately 200 million CAD in damage to insured properties. To estimate possible damage and losses within Canada due to extra-tropical cyclones, a comprehensive probabilistic model was developed which incorporates the meteorological hazards (wind, snow, freezing temperatures, and ice accumulation) and the associated vulnerability of Canadian built structures. In addition, a methodology for accounting for the temporal and regional vulnerability of structures was also implemented, reflecting changes in the wind and snow load design methodologies as well as the construction practices in Canada. A similar approach is used to develop a model for assessing the tropical cyclone risk in Canada.
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