An autumn storm has arrived in Estonia, the likes of which will probably have to be endured more and more frequently in the future due to climate change. The damages caused by such storms are also increasing, as people’s property is more and more valuable, full of high technology, etc. An expert from insurance technology company Balcia explains how to prepare for extreme weather conditions to reduce potential losses.
“The damage that such natural disasters cause to our homes, cars and gardens is really unpleasant. Recovering or repairing flooded homes, cars damaged by broken trees and branches, lightning damage is a real headache, takes a lot of time and requires significant financial resources. It is not possible to prevent all damages, but there are several measures that help reduce them,” said Jelizaveta Drižiruk, product manager of Balcia home insurance.
The Environmental Agency warns of extreme weather conditions, which also has a warning section in a separate section of the ilmatujus.ee page. Alerts are divided into categories – yellow, orange and red. A red category warning is the highest level of danger, which can be accompanied by great damage and is a threat to life and health. Therefore, it is worth keeping an eye on this page in order to know in advance in which area the danger may occur. Currently, level one warning has been issued across Estonia, and in some places it has also been raised to level two.
What can everyone do themselves to protect their property, knowing that a storm, rain, thunder or hail is approaching:
Vehicle
- If forecasters predict strong winds that could reach hurricane force, don’t park your car under trees and power lines. Even if the trees survive the storm, your car can be damaged by breaking branches, falling cones, etc. Make sure that there are no other objects nearby that could fall on your car in a strong wind.
- If possible, park the car in a shelter, closed garage or parking garage to protect it from rain, hail and breaking trees.
- Do not drive into deep puddles or flooded areas after heavy rain. It can damage your car’s engine or cause it to fail completely, affect the operation of electronic devices and sensors, damage the brake system and cause other serious damage. If you suspect that the car may have been under deep water while parked, dry the car thoroughly before starting it.
- Check in time whether your car’s comprehensive insurance covers all the above risks caused by natural disasters. If not, it is worth considering buying insurance with a wider coverage.
Home
- Close windows and doors before storms and rain, especially if your home has skylights. If they are not tightly sealed, moisture can penetrate into the interior and damage the window structure, window sill, walls, flooring and electrical equipment near the window.
- Unplug electrical appliances, as a lightning strike near a building can create inductive currents and damage appliances connected to the network.
- Prepare for a possible power outage, charge your mobile devices and stock up on plenty of drinking water.
- Make sure you know where and how to turn off the main water and power sources in the house to avoid emergency situations during a natural disaster.
- Check in time whether your home insurance is valid and whether it includes compensation for the consequences of natural disasters and liability insurance. Even if you have taken care of your property, liability insurance helps in cases where your property damages your neighbors’ property during a storm, for example, if your trampoline, grill, tree or branches fall on your neighbor’s house, garden or car in the yard.
Preventive preparatory works that require more time and the involvement of experts:
Home
- If you live in a private house, make sure that the roof is not damaged and that the roofing material is sufficiently fixed, as well as that the rainwater pipes are clean and do not obstruct the free drainage of water.
- Make sure the area around the house is well drained to avoid flooding.
- If there are trees in the garden, it is recommended to check them regularly yourself or with an arborist and cut branches that may break in strong winds.
- Install lightning protection and surge protectors to protect your home from lightning strikes and surges that can damage electrical wires, electrical equipment, and cause fires.
Solar panels
- Check that the solar panels are securely attached.
- Solar panels can also be struck by lightning, so it is recommended to equip them with both lightning protection and overvoltage protection. If they are not there, solar panels and inverters will be damaged in the event of a lightning strike. Make sure the solar panels and their connections are properly grounded. You can also consider temporarily disconnecting the solar panels from the electricity grid.
- Make sure your home insurance covers damage to solar panels caused by natural disasters, including hail, storms and lightning.
2024-10-09 11:51:00
#storm #approaching #prepare
