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When severe weather hits Australia, hazardous conditions such as hail, storms, flash floods, thunder and lightning can happen. Protect yourself with this severe weather preparation checklist and help safeguard your family.
Prepare an essential emergency kit and practice an emergency plan to ensure household members know what to do in the event of extreme weather conditions.
Stay inside and close all windows and doors. Find refuge in a small interior room, stairwell or the lowest floor of the building. Make sure family members are safe and accounted for, including pets. Stay clear of glass windows, doors and exterior walls.
If outside, seek shelter in a building or lie flat in a low dry ravine or ditch under a low bridge – don’t shelter in a car or caravan. Protect your head and hang on to a base of a shrub or small tree. Don’t try to outrun high winds or a cyclone.
Remain indoors and stay clear of windows, doors and fireplaces. Make sure all windows and doors are securely shut. Unplug all electrical appliances and don’t use telephones (either a landline or mobile) during the storm. Both water and metal are electrical conductors so make sure you don’t take a bath or touch electrical equipment during a lightning storm.
If outside, seek shelter in a building or vehicle. When there is no available shelter, crouch down, feet close together and keep your head tucked down. If you’re in a group, spread out several metres apart. Discard umbrellas, golf clubs and don't stand under trees or poles.
A flash flood is a violent and sudden flood. If you’re at home, get as high as you can and stay clear of windows or glass doors.
If you’re outside, find refuge as high as possible and call emergency services for help. When driving a vehicle, turn on hazard lights and pull over to the side of the road. Keep clear of causeways, streams, creeks, drains, trees and power lines.
If the flood water has risen around your car but the water isn’t moving, get out and move to higher ground. Don’t enter moving water.
Follow these important steps:
When planning for severe weather, make sure your home and contents insurance is up-to-date and the sum insured amount is enough. It’s a good idea to have your insurer’s details in your emergency kit, so you’ll be able to contact them in a hurry if you need to.
Cover is subject to your application for insurance being accepted.
* Quote and buy online and save 15% off your annual premium for the first year with promotional code COVER. Plus, save 10% when you combine home and contents located at the same address under one policy.
Key Facts Sheets (KFS):
Home Building Essential Care KFS (PDF 311KB)
Home Contents Essential Care KFS (PDF 335KB)
Home Building Quality Care KFS (PDF 311KB)
Home Contents Quality Care KFS (PDF 336KB)
Product Disclosure Statements (PDS)
Home and Contents Insurance Product Disclosure Statement and Supplementary Product Disclosure Statement (PDF 1MB) (applicable to policies issued or renewed on or after 1 July 2019)
Home and Contents Insurance Product Disclosure Statement and Supplementary Product Disclosure Statement (PDF 1MB) (applicable to policies initially issued in the period between 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2019; or renewed in the period between 30 July 2018 and 30 June 2019)
Home and Contents Insurance is issued by Westpac General Insurance Limited ABN 99 003 719 319 (except workers compensation cover where applicable). Bank of Melbourne – a Division of Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 (the Bank) distributes the insurance, but does not guarantee the insurance.
This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the relevant PDS(s) to see if this insurance is right for you.