Flood or Fire...Is your business prepared?

Each year in late October or November, we encourage our clients and Travel Industry members to act on planning for storms and bushfires.

This year, we are sending out an even earlier reminder – and this is more important now than ever before. Whilst in the past we have provided advice about staying safe over the holidays, the reality that severe weather events and terrifying bush fire conditions do not seem to care about the annual perils of summer.

Spring has only just arrived and already we have seen storms and fires across the country!

We have to be extra vigilant in taking all precautions around the damage that can be caused by Mother Nature.

Please take just a few moments to consider a plan.

Bushfires

Australia is a fantastic place to live, but we face a few challenges. Whether it be fires, storms, floods or other natural disasters, sitting down for a few moments to put together a disaster recovery plan could never be considered wasted time.

As always, many government agencies providing excellent advice on how to plan ahead to mitigate damage to your property, whether it be your personal property or your business.

Bushfires are becoming more intense and it is no longer a remote rural issue.

The various state arms of the SES have so much useful information on preparing and most importantly, surviving.

As you would expect, there is a lot of information around the bush and rural properties, but did you know that if you live along the coast near scrub you are also at risk? Coastal scrub fires can be hot and move very fast. This holds true for properties in built-up areas that back onto grassland as grass fires can start easily and spread very quickly – embers can be blown towards your home and from there the situation can deteriorate very quickly.

The Rural Fire Service has a very extensive Bushfire Readiness Plan > VIEW HERE

Storms and Floods

With much of the country suffering from extreme drought, not many people are thinking about this topic, but with extreme storms, “flash flooding” is becoming much more common. While flood generally refers to a river or natural watercourse bursting its banks, flash flooding is the result of heavy rain from an intense storm falling in a particularly short period and can be just as devastating to the affected area.

Concerning FLOOD SAFETY, the ABC has an excellent summary: VIEW HERE

Again, the Emergency Services provide exceptionally useful information on floods > VIEW HERE

Concerning STORMS, remember preparation is the key. Some points to be aware of include:

• Maintain your yard and balcony. Secure or store items that could blow around in strong winds
• Clean your gutters, downpipes and drains regularly to prevent blockages **
• Trim trees and branches that could potentially fall on your home or property **
• Fix any damage to your roof, including broken or missing tiles **
• Check your insurance policy is current and adequate
• Make a plan for your family that outlines what you would do in an emergency
• Prepare an emergency kit with essential items in case you lose power or need to leave home in an emergency
• Listen to your local radio station and other media for weather warnings
  

REMEMBER: NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED WATERWAYS

** anything to do with heights, roofs, and trees can be dangerous, so it may be prudent to enlist the assistance of a qualified tradesperson.


If you believe that this issue is relevant to your business, please feel free to contact Rebecca Fleming, Manager of our Travel Industry Division at Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers on (02) 8267 9919 or rfleming@gowates.com.au to discuss your circumstances or to obtain a quotation.

Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers advises that persons should not act on the material contained in this article as the items are of a general nature only and may be misinterpreted. We, therefore, recommend that advice be sought before acting in these areas.