Following a severe weather event, when communities are cut off from services, forward planning can ensure you can continue to live in your house. The key is that it’s liveable and self-sustainable after an event in case there are delays to services and you can live off-grid until help arrives.
There are steps that you can take prior to an event, to ensure you can keep going post weather event to make your water, sewage, electricity, and gas supplies safe and continuous.
A two galvanized tank system, like the one featured in Resilience Road, is a smart way of using water to keep you safe. In this system, the first tank is designated as a back-up source of drinking water on which the family can rely if they’re disconnected from the main water source.
Meanwhile, the second tank is dedicated to fighting fire and can be used to extinguish flames on site. Tank materials will matter too. Exposed PVC pipes and fittings will melt in a bushfire, so metal valves and pipe fittings should be used for all above ground applications.
Other steps you can take now to prepare for any future weather events are:
Ensure your electricity supply is disconnected from buildings that have been severely damaged and contact your electricity company. If you smell gas, turn off the gas at your meter. If the problem persists, contact your gas supplier immediately so the issue can be carefully taken care of.
Engage a licensed electrician to certify the safety of your home’s internal wiring, fittings and appliances in properties that have been partially damaged. It is recommended homeowners do this in conjunction with their insurance company.
Phone your local council to find out what needs to be done to stop sewage odours and to prevent stormwater entering open sanitary drains. You can also phone your local council for advice should you need information to help fix water supply problems.
The State Emergency Service (SES), Fire and Rescue and Police will attempt to eliminate obvious hazards for general safety in the wake of a weather event. However, you are responsible for ensuring your property is safe before undertaking any activity in or around buildings.
The information is intended to be of a general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries.
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From the simple to the complex, see which upgrades can help better protect your home.
An Australian first for Home Insurance. It’s our commitment to help create more resilient homes. It means that if your home is substantially damaged, we’ll rebuild it stronger with recommended resilience options up to $10,000, in addition to your sum insured, all designed to help withstand severe weather5.
Helping build a more resilient Queensland together.
Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 (AAI) trading as Suncorp Insurance. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before buying any insurance products. The Target Market Determination is also available. The information is intended to be of a general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries.
4. A premium reduction may be available to eligible Suncorp Home or Landlord Insurance customers, with properties above tropic of Capricorn, within 100km from the coast and with certain risk mitigation measures. Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions apply. Find out more.
5. Cover applies to claims with building damage over $50,000 or 10% of sum insured, whichever is highest. Resilience improvements are tiered according to level of cover up to $10,000. Limits, conditions and exclusions apply. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before you make any decision regarding this product.
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