Greg shares safety tips on how to prepare for a hail storm in this episode of Ask The Expert. 800 CHAB radio presents Ask the Expert with Greg Marcyniuk of Heritage Insurance located in Moose Jaw.
Here's a full transcript of the episode.
Rob Carnie: Severe summer weather season is upon us. Are you prepared? Are you prepared for a hail storm specifically? That's what we're talking about today on "Ask the Expert" with our friend, Greg Marcyniuk, from Heritage Insurance in downtown Moose Jaw. Greg, how do we prepare for hail?
Greg Marcyniuk: Well, Rob, with climate change, we're seeing severe weather events right across the prairie, so it's very important to get ready for it. In fact, last year, Calgary was hit with a hail storm, and it resulted in over 70,000 claims and over $1.3 billion in insured damages, and the majority of those were actually personal property and vehicles.
There was a small percentage of commercial property, but it was the costliest hail storm in Canada, in fact, the fourth costliest national disaster for insurance of all time. So very important to protect yourself and your family, first and foremost. That's what's most important.
So, find shelter, avoid water, high open ground, isolated trees, picnic shelters, and open spaces. Avoid underpasses and any low-lying areas that may flood. stay indoors, away from windows, glass doors, and skylights, which can shatter if hit by hail. Avoid using your telephone, and do not touch any metal objects like stoves, radiators, metal bikes, and sinks during that.
Protecting your home and property before a storm hits. If you have an opportunity, cover your windows with a protective film to resist shattering. Install surge arresters or suppression to protect your electronics against any sort of lightning strikes, power pole, and as well, remove weak branches and trees that could fall on your home.
But if there's something coming, do the extra effort. Also, put your vehicles and other valuables that you can in a garage or shelter to avoid being damaged during hail or falling debris. As well, secure items outside such as trampolines, any sort of patio furniture, umbrellas, toys, etc., because this can damage your home, and become projectiles in high winds, which typically do accompany hail storms.
Try and keep your support documents in a place other than in your home or off-site. If you are looking at doing any constructions and have any of that type of material outside, make sure you have that secured as well. Now, if you are unfortunate to get hit with hail, if you lose power, make sure you turn your appliances off to avoid a power surge when the power is restored.
And again, do not touch any electrical wires, appliance, or devices. Also, if the power's out, use a flashlight and not a candle as a source of light, and separate any damaged property from undamaged property. Prepare an inventory so that it's much easier to go through with the claim. Take photographs of any damaged property, again, to assist with a claim.
Keep receipts of any cleanup costs, such as cleanup restoration contract companies who come in, Shop-Vac rentals, cleaning supplies. And once it is hit, make sure you contact your broker. They're there to help you to get the claim going and get it processed and ready to roll.
Rob: Heritage Insurance. These tips are online?
Greg: That's correct, and you can come down and talk to any of our fine people at the corner of Fairford and First West and, as well, at nohassleinsurance.ca.
Rob: Heritage Insurance in downtown Moose Jaw.
(Video transcription by Speechpad)