This past week, the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology released the State of the Climate report, which highlighted that temperatures throughout Australia are projected to continue to increase in the coming years. An increase in temperature, higher winds and fewer cooler temperatures has contributed to the increasing severity of natural disasters, such as bush fire. The result is devastating loss of life and catastrophic damage to the financial security of bush fire affected Australians. In 2009, the Victorian Bush Fires saw the loss of 173 lives and over 5,500 homes and structures were destroyed. This catastrophic incident has highlighted the importance of being prepared in the event of a bush fire. As a result, we have made it our priority to best prepare you in the event that a bush fire should occur too close to your home or business. We have prepared a quick Bush Fire Preparation guide with useful steps to help you, your family and your business. Bush fire Preparation Guide
- Develop a bushfire plan;
- Prepare an emergency kit;
- Keep a set of protective clothing on hand;
- Keep electronic and hard copies of all your important contact numbers, including that of your local insurance broker;
- Understand your insurance policy(s), in terms of bushfire coverage;
- Keep your insurance policy(s) up-to-date to reflect the value of your property(s);
- Keep current records of your contents; and
- Follow steps to minimize the damage to your property or business, for example:
- Clearing property of dead trees or bushes and making sure to discard them properly;
- Keeping gutters, roof and downpipes clean;
- Making sure your smoke alarms are installed and working properly; and
- Having a water source established and working.
After a bushfire:
- Return to your property only after emergency services have advised that it is safe to do so; and
- Immediately, contact local Reliance Partner Insurance Broker.
We understand that no one can ever be fully prepared for a bushfire, but hopefully this short guide has provided some useful information. You can always be rest assured that Reliance Partners have got you covered.