Desjardins Insurance said it fielded close to 1,700 phone calls from residents reporting flooded homes over the weekend of June 20‑21, 2026. The surge in contact followed heavy rain that produced widespread flooding across the Greater Montreal area.
The rain, which fell continuously throughout the two‑day period, overwhelmed drainage systems and caused water levels to rise in many neighbourhoods. Homeowners described water entering basements, ground‑floor rooms and, in some cases, entire houses. As the situation unfolded, affected residents reached out to their insurer for guidance on claims, temporary accommodation and repair assistance.
Desjardins, one of the province’s major insurance providers, confirmed that the volume of calls represented an unprecedented spike compared with typical daily intake. While the company did not disclose the exact number of claims filed, the close to 1,700 calls indicate a significant demand for emergency response and assessment services. Staff members were deployed to manage the influx, prioritising urgent cases and directing callers to appropriate resources.
Municipal officials have reported that the heavy precipitation caused road closures, power outages and localized evacuations in several boroughs. The flooding has prompted a broader discussion about the adequacy of storm‑water infrastructure in the region, though the insurance firm limited its comments to the operational impact of the call surge.
Residents who have already submitted claims are awaiting assessments, which are expected to take several weeks given the high number of affected properties. Desjardins emphasized that it is working to process requests as quickly as possible while ensuring accurate evaluation of damage. The company also reminded policyholders to document losses and keep records of communications to support their claims.
The weekend’s weather event serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of many homes in Greater Montreal to intense rain events, and it has placed considerable pressure on both public services and private insurers as they respond to the aftermath.