Preparing for Storm Season
Australian communities suffer a significant impact from storms every year. Violent winds along with rain, hail or snow often cause significant damage to cars, homes and other buildings. Preparing for storm season should be an essential part of your ongoing property maintenance program.
We’ve been helping Australians get back on their feet after adverse events for over 50 years. We offer advice and insurance solutions for a range of insured events such as storms and floods. Severe storms impact all areas of Queensland, striking at any time of year. They are often unpredictable, can last many hours and travel long distances, causing serious injury and major damage to property. They are the most common severe weather event in Queensland and are predicted to occur more regularly in Australia.
Damaging winds from storms can bring down trees, branches and powerlines, remove roofs, and blow around outdoor items. Hail and lightning can injure people and damage property, and flash flooding can occur. That’s why it’s important to take some precautions.
Precautions to take ahead of Storm Season
- Make sure gutters and downpipes on your home and other structures are clear so heavy rain can flow freely off your roof
- Make sure tiles, corrugated sheets and other coverings on your roof are secure and can withstand high winds
- Secure items around your house that could become dangerous if blown about in high winds
- Make sure tree branches don’t overhang your house
- Have an emergency plan that includes where you and your family will go if you need to evacuate your home and how you’ll contact each other if separated
- Keep a list of emergency phone numbers in easy reach
- Put together an emergency pack of tinned food, water, first aid kit, blankets, warm clothes, spare batteries, matches etc
- Have a battery operated radio and torch handy in case the power is cut
- Know what sentimental, important and valuable items and photos to take with you should you need to evacuate
Precautions to take as a storm approaches
- Make sure outdoor furniture, bicycles, pot plants etc that could potentially become projectiles are secured or put indoors
- Put your car in the garage or under cover
- Secure doors, windows and awnings
- Shift furniture and fixtures away from windows and doors
- Unplug electrical items
- Make sure you have drinking water in containers
- Stay away from windows and doors during the storm
- Keep your mobile phone with you
- Avoid fallen power lines
- Avoid driving during heavy storms
We’re here to help!
If your property or other assets are damaged or you suffer a loss caused by a cyclone, storm, flood or fire, we’ll be ready to help with your enquiries and lodging a claim for you, making sure you get expert assistance and support. Contact us when it’s safe to do so. We know at claim time, it’s important you know what you’re covered for, that your insurance is up to date, your premiums are paid, and the sum for which you’re insured covers the replacement value of your property and belongings.
