Earlier this week, KwaZulu-Natal experienced unusually heavy rains that wreaked havoc across the province, with floods and mudslides destroying private property and public infrastructure. Social media and news outlets have been riddled with images/videos showing roads that collapsed, sinkholes that opened up, homes-cars- and possessions that got washed away.
In light of extreme weather and heavy rainfall becoming more frequent throughout the country, Robert Hodgkiss, Head of Risk Engineering at Bryte Insurance, provides some tips to help keep people safe during flooding and heavy rain. These tips can also be applied while driving down to the coastal regions these Easter holidays to avoid getting caught up in a thunderstorm or heavier showers.
Safety tips for when heavy rains and thunderstorms occur
- Ensure that you keep all of your important documents, such as ID documents, passports, birth certificates etc., within a water-resistant container.
- Switch off and unplug all electronic devices, especially during thunderstorms, as the surge from a lightning strike will damage those devices.
- Before doing so, however, ensure that you have charged your smartphone and that it remains within close proximity to you. Also, ensure that all of your emergency numbers, including your short-term insurance provider, are stored on your cell phone.
- Park your vehicles under cover to avoid hail strikes and limit the damage resulting from any falling debris. This cover should not be a tree, as strong winds may lead to falling branches damaging your car.
- If you are not driving but walking, please do not attempt to walk, jog or swim through fast-flowing water, as it takes as little as 15 cm deep water to sweep an adult off of their feet. If you are driving, remember that vehicles, even off-road capable 4×4 bakkies, can be swept away by swiftly-moving water as deep as 60cm or more.
Safety tips for when flooding occurs
- If you reside in an area that is especially prone to being flooded (make these enquiries when purchasing a house and meeting new neighbours), invest in sandbags during the rainy season, as these are exceptionally handy in the event of flooding. You are more likely to be able to divert ‘runoff’ water away from your house using the sandbags.
- Try and move all of your highest value items to the upper level floors or loftiest shelves.
- Turn off your electricity supply to avoid or at least minimise the risk of electrical shock.
- If flooding could compromise your safety or the integrity of your home, consider whether evacuating your home is the safest course of action.
- Motorists should not attempt to drive in flood conditions even in off-road capable vehicles such as double-cab 4×4 bakkies and SUVs.
- If you are caught in a flooded area, and your car stalls or is stuck, do not attempt to drive out of the area, rather, get yourself to safety.
“Being covered through insurance cover will enable you to replace or fix things like houses, vehicles, boats, and furniture. The irreplaceable things like the lives, safety and well-being of you and your loved ones should not be risked during incidents such as extreme weather, heavy rains, and flooding,” concludes Hodgkiss.
