Ensure you’re safe when storms hit: 10 tips to protect your car and home

With hail season approaching we've put together a few tips on how to lower the risks associated with property or personal injuries during these extreme weather events.

How to protect your vehicle:

1. If possible, use a GPS or Google Maps to search for covered parking facilities nearby (such as a shopping mall)
2. Pull over at a safe location, take the floor mats from the car and place them on the roof, bonnet and boot lid, ideally securing them with a heavy weight
3. Cover your car with thick fleecy blankets
4. Think of investing in a low-cost vehicle carport
5. Ensure that your car is insured for the correct value and that you policy will cover hail damage

How to protect your house:

1. Clear gutters of debris frequently to ensure less chance of overflow that could lead to water push backs and potential internal water damage
2. Inspect the roof regularly and be vigilant about maintaining it
3. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to prevent branch or debris damage to a home
4. Secure outdoor furniture or move it under cover
5. Ensure that your home and household contents are insured for the correct replacement value