19 Jan How to prepare for storm season in Brisbane

In Brisbane, storm season usually runs from November to February. So now is the perfect time to prepare for storm season.

Remember—if you own a solar power system with panels on your roof, hail or fallen branches can easily damage these. In severe storms, a number of other pool products can also be damaged.

Preparing for storm season often involves maintenance work on your property as well as checking that your insurance cover is in order. This will help make sure you’re not left with a costly bill around Christmas time.

What to do around the yard to prepare for storm season

There are some very simple things you can do to prepare for storm season that could save you a lot of money and a big headache later on.

This includes:

• clearing your gutters and drains
• trimming branches off trees around your house
• learning how to safely turn off your power, gas and water.

Do you have any large trees that might fall over?

Before storm season hits, it’s a really good idea to take a walk abound your yard to see if you have any large trees that look unhealthy. While you’re at it, have a peek over the neighbour’s fence too to check out the health of their trees.

If you discover any trees that look like they could fall over in a storm, get a professional to take a look at them for you.

It might cost you a little bit to have a tree removed, but this isn’t just about saving money—it’s also about protecting your family.

Do you have the right insurance to cover you for storm damage?

Another really important step prior to storm season is to make sure you have adequate insurance policies in place.

Most people take out general insurance policies but don’t read the fine print. They think they are covered for storm damage to their house, but often discover—to their horror—that they’re not. And when the worst does happen, a technicality means the insurance company doesn’t pay out.

So, now is a great time to look closely at your insurance policy. And don’t be afraid to ask your provider specific questions to check that you are covered for all possible scenarios.

If you’re not happy with the provider’s answers, switch to another company.

What pool equipment do you own that could get damaged?

When people think about storm season and potential damage to their house, they rarely think about their pool.

If you have solar panels on your roof, this may be one of the first things you think about insuring. But what about your other pool equipment?

This includes swimming pool:

• covers and blankets
• pumps
• filters
• cleaners
• salt chlorinators
• gas and electric heat pumps
• chemical dosing systems.

If you own any of these products, it’s a good idea to list them on your insurance policy or make sure they’re covered under general items.

Are you running a small business?

If you’re running a small business in Brisbane, we’d highly recommend you check out the severe storm preparation checklist on the Queensland Government website.