Be ready for more natural disasters in SA

Take steps to minimise damage

SOUTH Africans should not be lulled into a false sense of security once natural disasters such as severe storms, floods or fire have passed, but should prepare for any eventuality.

Old Mutual Insure head of sales and operations, Hannes Smith, said although it was hard to predict the severity or frequency of storms there were many “precautionary measures people could take to protect themselves and minimise damage” to property.

With areas in Gauteng and Kwazulu- Natal brought to a standstill this week as a result of torrential rain, destructive hail storms and gale- force winds which claimed several lives and caused major damage to property, residents were again counting the losses.

Besides speaking to a broker to ensure adequate insurance cover, Smith said: “Houses and cars are replaceable assets. Your life and the lives of your family are irreplaceable.

“Therefore, we urge all people to put their own safety first; let insurers like ourselves worry about replacing your damaged assets.”

Smith said it was essential to clear leaves and debris from gutters to prevent flooding and to fix the property before being exposed to the next catastrophe.

Mandy Barrett of insurance brokerage and risk advisers, Aon South Africa, said according to ClimateWise, a coalition of global insurers, brokers and industry service providers, “weather-related catastrophes such as floods, windstorms and droughts have increased 600% since the 1950s and cost the world economy $170bn in 2016, five times more than the 1980s and taking a huge leap up from the $103bn in losses recorded in 2015”.

Locally, floods in 2016 caused R700m in insured losses, while in June, the Cape storms and Knysna fires caused over R4bn in damages and this was alarming because the gap between the “cost of weather catastrophes and the insured values is growing”, said Barrett.

“The growing risks presented by our changing weather patterns demands you review your needs and get professional advice to ensure your cover meets those needs.

“Choice, simplicity of wording and customisation will ensure that your assets are covered correctly,” said Barrett.

She said when loss is suffered, people should “bear in mind claims volumes after such catastrophic events will be high and there may be delays in getting assessments and repairs done and shortages of hire cars.

“People should also consider that if they incur losses close to the holiday period, the repairs will probably be done only in the New Year because of the annual shutdown.”

Mayoral committee member for Safety, Security and Social Services JP Smith said yesterday was International Disaster Risk Reduction Day and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction used the day to highlight “initiatives that promote disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness”.

The city had developed family preparedness guidelines, said Smith and these included a family emergency plan that accounted for “different scenarios and includes details like contact information, collation of important documentation” and family emergency plan that accounted for alternative places to stay and appropriate arrangements for the care of family pets.

A disaster supply kit should be kept that covered basics such as fresh water, non-perishable food items and items that provide warmth. Awareness preparedness was also essential in ensuring that each family member knew what to do in an emergency or disaster situation, Smith said.