Steps to help keep you and your home safe when the heavy rains hit

Consider this your friendly reminder that summer isn’t just about having fun in the sun. It’s also the season of hectic rains. (Trust us, we donned our weather goggles and checked it out.) So now we can say, with scientific confidence, that South Africa’s annual precipitation is 469.9mm, of which the highest rainfall occurs from November to March.

Slap bang during hot holiday season.

We kind of like a bit of rain to cool things down and wash the dust away. It’s a welcome relief at times. But the heavy rains that wreak havoc, causing loss of life and widespread damage to property and infrastructure aren’t welcome. Not at all.

While we can’t do much to prevent the downpours from coming your way, we can be there for you with our royal home and car insurance to cover you against the financial consequences of the damage caused.

We can also give you our best tips to help prevent the flooding from damaging your property and putting your life in danger.

Protect your home before the floods

Our first tip is to make sure that you have the king’s royal home insurance so that we can have your back if the worst should happen.

We’ve got 2 options for you, which is comprehensive home contents cover and our more affordable fire and fury cover. Curious about our fire and fury option? Simply put, this covers your home against all the regular risks, including storm damage, floods, and fire. But not theft or attempted theft.

Okay, back to protecting your home. 

Steps to follow before the rains hit:

  • Gutters: Clear out debris to prevent overflowing as this could lead to water push-backs and potential internal water damage.
  • The roof: Look out for loose tiles and get any maintenance work done right away.
  • The shrubbery: Trim to prevent branches or debris damaging your home during a storm.
  • Outdoor bits and bobs: Move patio furniture, electronic equipment and valuables out of harm’s way and off the floor.
  • Perforated pipes: If you have a big, flat garden, consider installing a perforated 110mm pipe, seated into a bed of gravel, and buried 350-450mm below the worst areas. This allows for more easy absorption and less of your very own swamp.

Protect yourself on the roads during the floods

The king’s car insurance is there for you come rain or shine, but what you need to do is make sure that you’ve got the right cover. To make sure that damage to your own car is covered, you’ll need to choose the king’s super cheap comprehensive car insurance.

Again, let’s get back to the safety tips.

Tips to keep you safe on the roads:

  • Flood reports: Check the local traffic reports for signs of where heavy rain is expected so you can plan your routes and avoid those areas.
  • Slow down: No matter how hard the rain is coming down, ease up and drive slower, leaving bigger gaps between your car and the next.
  • Avoid braking: Braking suddenly can cause your car to skid or hydroplane, so rather stay alert so nothing brake-worthy sneaks up on you, and if you do need to brake, avoid sharply pressing down on the pad.
  • Light it up: Make sure your headlights are switched on. Weirdly, some people forget to do this.
  • Be alert: We find that half the battle is won just by keeping an eye on the road conditions and being aware of the cars around you.

Seriously. The king’s insurance isn’t only super cheap but it’s also been expertly put together so that we can be there for you.

Click here for a commitment-free insurance quote or you can WhatsApp us on 0860 50 50 50.