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Being Cape Town based I experienced firsthand the destruction that storms bring. Whole areas, including highways, were flooded, trees were knocked over and huge mudslides have made some roads impassible.
The study also found that South Africa is the only African country affected by five out of the six types of extreme weather events analysed, namely droughts, floods, landslide events, extreme temperature, storms and wildfires.
READ: Western Cape enters recovery phase after flood and storm damage
However, what I noticed during the floods last week was the difference it had made in areas where storm water drains and gutters had been cleared recently. Water was able to flow more easily, preventing roads from being flooded. And by clearing out our gutters a few weeks ago meant we did not experience flood damage.
Santam has issued a warning that as climate patterns shift, frequency and severity of hailstorms is likely to increase. This causes not only damage to property but also to vehicles.
According to Santam’s Head of Client Solutions Underwriting, Attie Blaauw, “hailstones can measure up to 7cm in diameter so it is easy to see why so much irreparable damage is done to vehicles and property.”
Blaauw offers some tips to help be adequately prepared for hail storms:
- Drive slowly – slower driving minimises the damage of hail and combats slippery roads.
- Locate a safe, covered area immediately or pull over under an overpass, provided it is safe to do so.
- Undercover parking at malls and petrol stations are good temporary solutions to protecting your car during a hail storm.
- Stay inside the vehicle. Large hail stones pose a genuine personal injury threat.
- Keep fleecy blankets in your boot so you can cover your car to minimise the impact of hail. If you don’t have blankets, grab the floor mats and put them on the roof and bonnet to at least cover some of the car to help minimise the costs of dent repair, dent removal and other hail damage repair.
- Take careful note of the extent of the damage to your car, look for damage to all glass items including side mirrors, tail lights and head lights. Taking pictures may be useful when it comes to claim time.
READ: SA’s climate policies not stringent enough for proper transition
- Keep your gutters clean and free of debris. Hail takes a while to melt and an overflowing gutter could lead to a leaking roof and further damage. Hail build-up is also heavy so make sure the guttering is in good order.
- Trimming trees close to your house helps get rid of branches that can cause severe damage during a storm
- Keep your blinds down. Make sure you close all curtains, blinds or shutters to prevent broken window glass and hailstones from entering your home and injuring you or your family.
- Park your car in the garage or in a sheltered undercover area.
Blaauw says South Africans in hail-prone areas should ensure they are adequately covered against hail damage in their insurance policy.
He said:
He concludes by urging South Africans affected by hail to immediately report the incident to their insurers.
