Is your building storm ready?

Date published 15 Aug 2019, updated 10 Jan 2024

Storm season in Australia is from September to March each year - but severe weather and storms can strike at anytime. Whether it’s heavy rain, lightning or hailstones heading your way, here’s our top tips to prepare your strata-titled building for a storm. It’ll help to protect your property, and maybe your insurance premium!

Prune your trees and cut-back branches

As well as keeping your garden or outdoor space looking great for your residents, it will also help to protect your property from damage caused by falling trees or branches. Make sure any weak or overhanging branches are trimmed back, as well as any large plants close to the building.

If you are concerned about a tree on your property, you can enlist and Arborist to assess it for safety. They’ll be able to advise you on the best action to take to protect your property from tree damage.

Clean out the gutters

We know it’s not anyone’s favourite job - but it’s got to be done. Making sure your gutters and downpipes are clear of leaves and debris will mean when the rain starts pouring, it can flow freely into the drain and not leak into your roof or damage the external walls.

Remember to also check the drains on any balconies. Make sure these are kept clear and nothing is covering them so water can run off. In very heavy or persistent rain it could flood the balcony and seep back into the building!

Regular maintenance is essential for flood safety and preventing extensive damage to your strata property. Consider routine inspections of your gutters and downpipes before storm season to ensure your drains are ready to handle heavy bouts of rain.

Check the roof

While you’re already up there cleaning the gutters, you should also check your roof for any damage or signs of deterioration. All roofs are different but here’s some key areas to check and things to look out for:

Look for any broken, cracked or missing roof tiles
Signs of moss or mold forming
Chimneys or vent coverings are in good condition
Solar panels are attached securely - and don’t forget to check your surge protector, incase of lightning strikes

Driveways and car parks

Keep an eye out for any cracks or holes that might be forming in the asphalt. Although they aren’t causing any issues now, after some heavy rain or flooding they could quickly get much worse and become a pothole. Once these are formed they’ll damage tyres and can be a trip hazard.

Swimming pools

If your residents are lucky enough to have a swimming pool in the complex, that will need a little bit of preparation too. Although you can’t do much for the pool itself during a storm, you can make sure all the pool equipment, especially any cleaning chemicals, are stored safely and securely.

It’s also a good idea to find a place to store any poolside furniture, so it can be secured when you know there’s a storm heading your way. In high winds loose garden furniture and equipment could cause a lot of damage if it gets picked up by strong wind gusts.

Storm-proofing windows and doors

It’s important to ensure all glazed elements in your home, including windows and doors, are storm-proofed to protect against any potential damage from wild weather. You can consider an added level of protection for windows by installing external shutters and internal mesh window screens. These additional layers can help your windows to withstand strong winds and projectiles in the case of a cyclone or storm. Also consider window seals to prevent water penetration and the risk of interior water damage.

Doors can be especially susceptible during extreme weather, with the risk of breaking or being dislodged from their hinges. To protect your strata property’s doors, think about installing corrosion-resistant doors and hardware or impact resistant door screens (can be permanent or temporary) along with ensuring the locking mechanisms are sturdy and functioning properly. Additionally, installing weatherstripping around doors can prevent water penetration and reduce wind impact.

Energy backup solutions

Having an energy backup solution in place is an option for maintaining safety during extreme weather events where your power may get knocked out. Installing a generator or solar battery storage system can provide you with essential power during outages, allowing you to have electricity for lighting, cooking, and communicating when you need it most.

Emergency Preparedness Plan

It pays to be prepared. When an unexpected storm or natural event hits, you want to be ready for it. Having a well-thought-out emergency plan can make all the difference in maintaining the safety of your strata property and its residents.

1. Establish evacuation routes

Identify and clearly mark evacuation routes, ensuring all residents are familiar with these paths. Display evacuation routes in common areas and provide maps in all units.

2. Make an emergency kit

Put together all essential items you might need in the event of a severe storm or power outage. You should encourage all residents to assemble their own kits, too. Your emergency kit should include the following items:

Torches and batteries
Bottled water and non-perishable foods
First aid kit with essential medications
Matches and candles
Crucial supplies for babies, disabled, and elderly individuals
A list of emergency contacts

3. Create a list of emergency contacts

Have a list handy of all emergency contacts including local emergency services, the strata property management, and your insurance provider’s emergency hotline in case of property damage.

4. Know the location of utility shut-offs

Make sure you know the locations of your strata property’s water, gas, and power supplies as it may be necessary to turn them off in an emergency to prevent further damage or safety risks. For example, if a water leak occurs during a storm, shutting off the water supply can improve water safety and prevent further damage to the property.

Insurance claim process

Having residential strata insurance in place will cover you for certain weather events, including floods, storms, fires, and earthquakes. If your strata property has sustained damage as a result of a weather event, you can make a claim by following these simple steps:

1. Contact your Strata Manager, Broker or call your insurer directly or visit their online claims form

Call your insurance provider or visit their website to submit an online claims form. Make sure you have your policy number handy.

2. Provide details of the event

You’ll be asked to provide details of the event, the time of the incident, and any photos of the property damage.

3. Submit your claim

Once you’ve submitted your claim, your insurer will assess all information provided and if approved, will issue a payout based on the agreed terms of your policy.

Common pitfalls to avoid to ensure a quick claims process:

To ensure a smooth claims process, be mindful of the following:

Failing to report damage promptly

Not reporting the damage promptly may complicate your claim. Most policies require prompt notification of any incidents, so make sure you contact your provider as soon as possible following storm-related damage.

Not understanding all the terms in your policy

Each insurance policy contains specific terms and conditions. Be sure to familiarise yourself with your cover’s product disclosure statement (PDS) which will outline the key features, benefits, exclusions, and limitations of your policy.

Not documenting properly

Inadequate documentation of the damage may jeopardise your claims process. Ensure you provide detailed information including time stamped photos, and witness or police reports if applicable.

Assuming all damages are covered in your policy

Not all damages are covered under a policy. For example, residential strata insurance only covers damage to the common property and not personal contents within individual units.

Check your level of cover

It’s also important to check what’s covered under your buildings residential strata insurance policy and understand any exclusions. Make an inventory of items covered by your policy, and check your sum-insured value so know what’s protected when a storm strikes. If you’ve recently bought new contents or upgraded your facilities let your insurer know so they can be added or updated in your policy.