Dealing with natural emergencies – Its tropical cyclone season, the season of hurricanes and typhoons (the Pacific name for a tropical cyclone). We’ve heard the stories from Hurricane Sandy which was downgraded to a sub-tropical storm. Back in England however, we’re left with a slight drizzle of rain and are generally less likely to encounter disasters such as Hurricanes, earthquakes and so on. There is still however a natural risk – what should you do to protect your property?
Heavy rains and storms
The most common property insurance claims in the UK are flood related. If you live near the coast or on some sort of flood plain, you may well find that your property is vulnerable to flooding. If you’re new to an area or not properly acquainted however, you may not be aware of the dangers. Find out before you buy, whether the area is prone to flooding and do your research. Gales can also cause property damage (mainly roofs) so make sure you take that into account especially if you live by the sea.
Protecting your home
You never know when bad weather conditions may cause your house damage, so prepare as far as possible. If you live on a flood plain, make sure you have in store some sandbags as well as emergency access. It would also be prudent to get all relevant numbers in case of any emergency from electricians to plumbers to roofing specialists.
Consult your property insurance documents
Don’t think that just because you’ve got property insurance that you’re covered completely. There can often be exclusion clauses for flooding especially if it’s shown that you live on a known flood plain. You may need to purchase more insurance cover too. Make sure you talk to your insurers and prepare. We may live in the UK where we enjoy a mild climate, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.