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Be prepared as summer looms
Australian summers can be fraught affairs for small business owners, because summer brings with it the threat of cyclones, floods and fires.
It won’t have escaped your notice that our worst natural disasters tend to happen in the summer. And this coming summer disaster season could be more troublesome than most, thanks to a combination of conditions in the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans.
The devastating Black Summer of 2019/20 is still seared into the nation’s consciousness, but fire may not be the main threat this time around.
Instead, the risk of widespread flooding is on the cards for much of Australia this summer, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a La Nina alert warning there’s now a 70% chance of a La Nina event developing.
The sophisticated technologies that our weather experts use show that this summer there’s an increased chance of above-average rainfall across much of Australia, and an increased number of tropical cyclones this season.
The weather outlook says there is a 65% chance of more cyclones than average in Australia, which ordinarily sees nine to 11 cyclones in a season with about four making landfall.
From cyclones and driving rains to bushfires, this coming summer could well see it all occurring across the continent.
The Australian and New Zealand National Council for Fire and Emergency Services has
warned of above-normal fire potential across large areas of New South Wales and Queensland.
And even though most of the country should experience “normal” conditions, AFAC always stresses that devastating and deadly fires can still occur during normal bushfire seasons.
All of this means that now more than ever you need to make sure your property and assets are protected.
Part of this is arranging appropriate insurance that will get you back on your feet if disaster does strike. You need to make sure that you have the right level of cover in place, because underinsurance introduces uncertainty and unnecessary risk. You also need to understand flood cover, and the fact that it may not be automatically included in your policy.
Equally important is reducing your risk by managing and maintaining your property effectively. There are things you can do to reduce the chances that you will have to claim, and you need to be aware that if damage occurs because of poor maintenance, then your policy may not pay out.
If you are on top of all these aspects, you can go into summer with peace of mind and the knowledge that you’ve done everything you can to prepare for the worst that Australian summers can throw at you.
Talk to us and we’ll help you review your cover and risk management programs. Be prepared!