Many homeowners in Manitoba, Canada, have been shocked to find out that they are not covered for spring high waters.

Although they have valid home insurance the policies fell short of giving them the protection they desired.

Boss of the Insurance Brokers Association Dave Shioler, however, explained that the problem could be down to the basic language in their policies, which came to many as a shock more than even the havoc caused by the ice and water.

“Not enough people are really aware that this kind of flooding is not covered in their insurance policies,” he said.

He added that there was a need for people to have a clear understanding of their insurance policy and know what it covers regarding flooding or any other water disaster.

While most policies have protection for basic water damage due to sewer back-up and similar inconveniences, they do not have a similar cover for the large-scale flooding commonly experienced by homes in the area.