Weather: How To Prepare For The Unexpected

By: Greta Goosen, Head of Customer Experience at MiWay Insurance

The past few months have been characterised by extreme weather conditions, from searing heat, fires, and floods in the northern hemisphere to vicious local cold snaps that have left many parts of South Africa blanketed in snow for the first time in decades. And if experts are to be believed, this is just the beginning.

So, what does this mean for the local climate and what can we expect in years to come? For starters, we’re likely entering an era of extremes, which means that everything from wind to heat is likely to be exacerbated over the course of time, resulting in a greater likelihood of flooding, fires, and violent hailstorms.

Given the volatile and increasingly unpredictable nature of global weather patterns, it’s never been more important to ensure that you take the appropriate measures to protect your home and valuables against potential damage. But how do you prepare for the unexpected?

Here are a few key considerations to bear in mind to ensure peace of mind:

For starters, it’s important to understand what is covered with regard to the weather in your insurance contract. While many insurers do make provision for extreme weather events, this cover is essentially contingent on your capacity to keep your home well maintained. Should your property suffer damage during the course of a storm or flooding as a result of poor maintenance, this could be considered a result of neglect rather than the wrath of Mother Nature.

As such, it’s important to perform regular checks on your property, ensuring you keep your gutters clean and that you regularly check your roof and walls for leaks or cracks. It’s also important to keep your garden well maintained; cutting back any rogue branches that could potentially cause damage to your home in the event of extreme weather.

Prep your home for storms and more

Good maintenance is key to ensuring your home is ready to withstand the impact of potentially damaging storms. As such, ensure your gutters are cleared ahead of the stormy season, to avoid build-up which could lead to breakages and avoidable flooding. Equally, it’s best to keep an eye on your roof and walls, making sure that any potential cracks or leaks are attended to ahead of time. Vigilance is equally important should an unexpected storm make landfall. Make sure you’re prepared by keeping tabs on weather forecasts, and by ensuring that all your electrical devices are unplugged so as to avoid potential damage caused by power surges or lightning strikes.

Take cover

Hailstorms can also cause devastating damage to vehicles, so in light of the upcoming Highveld storm season, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to prevent unnecessary damage. Should you be advised of an approaching storm, make sure to park your car somewhere safe and undercover, ensuring that all windows and doors are sealed shut. In addition, some insurers offer a specific hailstorm warning alert, so make sure you’re signed up to receive relevant notifications to save yourself both money and hassle.

Fend off fires

With extreme wind and heat likely to elicit a greater possibility of rogue fires, it’s particularly important for those with thatched roofs or lapas to take the necessary precautions. Thatched surfaces should be applied with a fire-retardant substance, which essentially offers an additional layer of protection. Additionally, you might want to consider a drencher water system, which can be affixed to the highest point of the roof and releases a cascade of water in the event of a blaze. Equally important are your lightning conductors (which should be SABS compliant) and the presence of a fire extinguisher, which should be easily within reach and checked at least once a year.

Dealing with drought

Along with rain and flooding, the prospect of drought is also a distinct reality given the recent trends witnessed elsewhere. It’s important to remain water conscious and minimise wastage, especially when it comes to your garden. By replacing grassy surfaces with artificial alternatives, pavers, and indigenous plants, you’ll ensure your garden is less dependent on the water should dry conditions prevail. If you’re unable to part with your perfect lawn, look into solutions like mulch, which can help to minimise water uptake, and remove invasive plants which can sap your water supply.

While it’s difficult to predict what twists and turns the weather will take in the coming months and years, it’s safe to say that it’s likely to be more intense than usual. And while completely avoiding potential damage in the face of the unknown is all but impossible, your ability to take adequate precautions and keep up on maintenance could have an enormous impact on your long-term financial well-being.