ICE IN THE SKY:

AUGUST 2024: Calgary Hailstorm Unleashed

On August 5, 2024, a devastating hailstorm tore through Calgary, Alberta, racking up $2.8 billion in

damages and triggering over 130,000 insurance claims, the second-largest insured loss event in

Canadian history. In the aftermath, DKI Calgary, a leading Calgary disaster restoration firm worked

tirelessly with insurance carriers to take on the massive challenge: inspecting thousands of homes with speed, precision, to assist home and property owners in navigating claims in a race against winter’s arrival.

DKI Calgary received approximately 100 new claim assignments a day for several weeks from their insurance partners, a reflection of Canada’s collaborative approach where contractors and insurers work closely to manage claims. Each required thorough on-site inspections with detailed reports promptly

delivered to insurance carriers and adjusters, while also ensuring any necessary emergency services were provided to the property owner without delay. With the clock ticking and winter weather looming, speed and precision were must-haves. Some insurers mobilized in-field teams from across the country, while

others teamed up with drone service providers and contractors to scale operations and keep up with the overwhelming demand.

SOLUTION

DKI Calgary swiftly activated its disaster response plan following the massive hailstorm to support our community. Emergency service crews were immediately deployed to assist home and property owners in need of urgent help.

We reinforced our in-house team with trained operators and drone units while mapping and gridding the

affected areas of the city to begin on-site inspections and reporting.

Our specialized A.I. software allowed us to quickly identify hail damage, enabling us to deliver accurate

inspection reports to insurance companies and property management firms with speed and efficiency.

In short, our trained and dedicated team, combined with streamlined tools and software, allowed us to

immediately transition into a well-coordinated and efficient response mode. By tracking every submitted

claim, we were able to assign tasks and provide reports to the necessary parties in a timely manner.

As a proud member of DKI Canada, a leading network of Canadian-owned and operated restoration contractors, we remained committed to our motto: "Locally Owned, Nationally Backed." Experts in restoring damaged properties to their pre-loss condition quickly and efficiently, we provide full-scale

commercial and residential restoration services. Coordinated IMGING inspections began within hours of the storm with DKI Calgary alone producing the

following:

• Properties Flown: Up to hundreds of homes were inspected per week for several weeks.

• Turnaround Time: Inspection times were completed efficiently by our highly trained staff with the use of Drones, A.I. technology, and extensive industry knowledge . This allowed us to submit hail inspections quicker and with more detailed accuracy and photos to verify what was damaged by

hail specifically. By using our experienced team, skills and specialized tools our time lines were faster than most of our customers expected or experienced with others.

• Completion Time: our team conducted over 2,000 exterior hail inspections efficiently and safely using specialized drone technology operated by trained and licensed professionals. By leveraging this advanced approach, we eliminated the need for roof access, ensuring both safety and precision. As a result, all inspections were completed and submitted within weeks, allowing us to process assessments and reports with exceptional speed and accuracy.

• Cross-Team Collaboration: Insurers, Contractors, our skilled team and drone service providers streamlined inspections with drone inspection software, completing them quickly while seamlessly generating Xactimate estimates through its integration.

• DKI Calgary Implemented their in house Disaster Response Team to efficiently coordinate the high volume of claims coming in hourly during the first few weeks, ensuring no details were missed and properties being restored as smoothly and quickly as possible.

THE RESULTS

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By leveraging DKI Calgary’s precision and speed, all inspections and deliverables were completed before Calgary’s weather began to turn. This rapid response gave insurers the data they needed to process claims efficiently and empowered us to begin repairs sooner, ensuring homeowners were supported during a critical recovery period.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

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DKI Calgary successfully helped home and property owners, and their insureds, quickly and efficiently by utilizing drones and specialized software to meet the demands of one of Canada’s most significant weather events. By replacing slow, manual inspections and outdated processes with AI-driven drone technology and seamless cloud collaboration, we transformed a massive challenge into a scalable success—proving that innovation, trained staff, and teamwork are critical when disaster strikes.

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