Spring/Summer Storms can develop quickly and threaten your life and property. You can greatly lessen the impact of a severe storm by taking the time to prepare in advance.
This involves three basic steps: 
STEP 1:
KNOW THE RISKS AND BE PREPARED
Before and during the storm season you can be prepared by:
• Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm. • Clean gutters, drains and downpipes. • Make sure your roof is in good repair. • Prepare an emergency kit.
When a storm is imminent
• When a severe storm is on the horizon, Environment Canada will issue weather warnings through the Weatheroffice website, automated telephone information lines and Radio and television stations will also broadcast Environment Canada weather statements. Pay attention to that information.
STEP 2:
MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN
An emergency plan will help you and your family to know what to do in case of an emergency. Remember, your family may not be together when a storm or other emergency occurs.
Start by discussing what you should do at home, at school or at work if a severe storm strikes. To be prepared, make a list of what needs to be done ahead of time. Store important family documents, such as birth certificates, passports, wills, financial documents, insurance policies, etc. in waterproof container(s). Identify an appropriate out-of-town contact that can act as a central point of contact in an emergency.
STEP 3:
GET AN EMERGENCY KIT
In an emergency you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. You may have some of the items already, such as a flashlight, battery-operated radio, food and water. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark? Make sure your kit is easy to carry and keep it in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front hall closet. Make sure everyone in the household knows where the emergency kit is.
HOW YOUR INSURANCE HELPS:
With these severe risks, we need to make sure we are properly covered so that if one of these events hits us close to home or by the lake, we are properly covered.
Most basic insurance home policies include the wind and hail perils automatically, but there are some coverages that may be available to top up your policy.
Your insurance is responsible to repair or replace the damage to your house. If hail and wind damage one side of your dwelling, it will fix that side. However as siding and shingles age over time, the new material may not match the remaining three sides. SGI Canada has a Prestige policy which removes this “obsolescence clause” to help cover those remaining 3 sides to make sure your house goes back to the way it was designed to be.
With these thunderstorms, there may be a lot of water that comes with it. SGI Canada and Wawanesa have created Flood/Water Protection coverages to help protect you from a flooding situation. We also recommend installing automatic sump pumps and backwater valves in your main sewer line to prevent damage and these preventative measures may result in a potential discount on your policy. Your rates/eligibility will vary depending on your location, it may be worth looking into.