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Friday 29 July 2016

How to Monsoon-Proof Your Properties in India?



Do you know how much a changing monsoon is changing India? A few weeks ago it was a thirsty land of burning temperature, and now there are rain spells everywhere leaving homes and commercials floating.

While India is used to seeing monsoons as a blessing for all these years, the rain gods have ditched Chennai, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and many other areas of the country with fatal flooding episodes of late. It is further shocking to find India at the top in Verisk Maplecroft list of world’s riskiest place due to natural disasters.

Slashed by heavy monsoon and associated disasters like landslides and floods, people are increasingly depending on insurance solutions to make their economy less exposed. Though not a common practice among homeowners in the country, the low cost of Indian flood insurance policies make it more buyable. Let’s take a closer look at the two most important domestic properties that must be chosen for insurance against flood - Homes and Cars.

Insurance helps you protect your assets and property even in the case of natural calamities. There are several Home Insurance products from which one can buy the most suitable product. If you wish to safeguard your home and car in situations like flood and landslide, you need to buy an insurance policy with utmost care. There are several add-ons being offered by different companies, but one must know to pick the ones that benefit them the most. 

Here are a few essential add-ons to be bought along with any car insurance policy you may buy:
  1. Engine protector add-on will cover against engine damages due to leakage of lubricating oil, damage to gear box or water ingression. The Engine Protector also covers consequential damage to the engine due to any of these reasons.
  2. Return to invoice plan can cover the lag between the insured value of your car and its invoice value. This add-on is very useful if you encounter a Total Loss when the repairs to the damages would be more expensive than replacing the vehicle. The insurance company will repay the full amount that you paid originally during the time of purchasing   the vehicle.
  3. With the Zero depreciation add-on, you can enjoy a cover with no depreciation. This is applicable only for new cars and can be extended till the car turns 5 years old.
  4. Consumables like Oils, Coolant, Grease etc. are changed due to an accident are covered under this.
  5. Key Replacement can be availed if the vehicle’s keys were lost or stolen. This add-on covers the cost paid to the locksmith or towards replacing the locks.

For any clarifications on Car Insurance Companies or suggestions on Cheap Car Insurance quotes, feel free to get in touch with us on the toll- free number 1800-1035-569 or drop an email to helpdesk@futurisk.in
 
A Home Insurance product would only cover the structure of the house by default. Unless you safeguard your household items with add-ons, the items inside your dwelling are not covered by the regular Home Insurance Plans.

Here is a comprehensive listing of various add-on to help you get an optimal coverage:
Fire and Allied Perils Contents (excluding terrorism)
Section I - Fire & Allied Perils
Coverage for your building and its contents, belongings and your family members who reside permanently with you.
Allied Perils includes fire, lightening, explosion of gas in domestic appliances, bursting and overflowing of water tanks, apparatus or pipes, damage caused by aircraft, riot, strike, malicious or terrorist act, earthquake, fire and/or shock, subsidence and landslide or rockslide damage, flood, inundation, storm, tempest, typhoon, hurricane, tornado or cyclone impact damage

Section II - Burglary & House Breaking offers coverage for contents of your dwelling in the event of loss or damage due to burglary, house breaking, larceny or theft.

Section III - All Risks (Jewelry & Valuables)
Coverage for loss or damage to your jewelry and other valuables due to accidents or misfortunes while being kept, worn or carried anywhere within India.

Section IV - Plate Glass
Coverage for loss or damage to fixed plate glasses in the premises that you have insured due to accidents.

Section V - Breakdown of Domestic Appliances
Coverage for unexpected physical damage to domestic appliances in your insured dwelling because of mechanical or electrical breakdown.

Section VI - T.V. Set including VCP/VCR
Coverage for loss or damage to Television Set including due to fire and allied perils, burglary, house breaking or theft, breakage due to accidental external means, mechanical or electrical breakdown. This add-on also covers any legal liability that arises out of injury or accidental death of an individual other than your family members caused by use of the television set.

Section VII - Pedal Cycles
Covers any loss or damage to the pedal cycles in your insured dwelling due to Fire & allied perils, burglary, housebreaking, theft, accidental external means.

Section VII - Baggage Insurance
Coverage for loss or damage of your baggage by accident or misfortune you travel within India.

For any clarifications on Home Insurance Companies or suggestions on Cheap Home Insurance quotes, feel free to get in touch with our experts.
 
The willingness to go for a comprehensive flood cover requires quick exponential progress, as Indian subcontinent may face ruthless monsoons recurrently in the future due to the greenhouse effect and associated climatic changes. 

If you do nothing, you might end up sloshing around smelly carpets, soaked furniture, moldy walls, damaged appliances and ruined electronics. Farmers on the other hand lament over their drowning crops even now though the government has extended $1.3bn worth crop insurance scheme for insuring crops for a meager premium.

With heavy monsoon showers, many of us have to drive our cars through floods and stagnant water. Apart from shorted-out electrics and bad roads, there is a risk of the engine sucking in water which, being incompressible, will spoil connecting rods, pistons, and the crankshafts. So here is what you should do while driving through roads that are getting flooded rapidly during sudden downpours.

  1. It is not a good idea to drive through a flooded area that you would not be able to comfortably walk through as the road under the water might have been washed away.
  2. Just six inches of stagnant water is enough to reach the bottom of most cars, and it can cause the car to miss control without any tyre grip.
  3. When you try to cross a flooded section of a road, make sure to drive through the middle where the water will be at its shallowest.
  4. Never attempt to rush against an approaching vehicle as you will disturb the other driver and will not be able to judge the flood water as well.
  5. As two feet of flowing water can easily sweep away most cars, don’t attempt to cross it as the car will lose grip and can be swept away easily.

Flooding at home is a nightmare for anyone, here is what you could do to stay protected apart from staying cover with a good insurance plan.
  1. Follow the local building codes so that your home is built at the right height.
  2. Usage of high-quality flood-resistant materials will avoid damages to flooring, walls, and ceilings.
  3. Have electrical components like sockets and switches above the potential flood height.
  4. Elevate utilities like washer, dryer, furnace, and water heater above the level of anticipated flooding.
  5. Install a backflow valve in the sewer system.

Global weather change has drastically affected the climatic conditions and its impact on the Indian subcontinent. Flooding kills thousands of people and leave millions homeless every year.

Earlier this year Google India came up with flood information tool backed up by data provided by the Indian Central Water Commission (CWC). A part of Google Crisis Response Tools, this new tool can be accessed through Google Public Alerts for river water level data of more than 170 locations in the country. Again, such tools don’t prove its purpose unless it reaches the underprivileged and ignorant population who suffer the most. 



About 75% of annual rainfall in India comes down as monsoon showers in a few months. In spite of impressive economic growth ratio, India lags considerably behind in building resilience to such natural menace.




Now, what if you followed the precautionary efforts while building your home but, you anticipate flood anytime due to heavy downpour? Follow these steps to stay safe.
  1. Move your valuables and furniture to the highest level possible and tie them up against pillars so that they remain safe and dry.
  2. Transfer hazardous materials like pesticides, and cleaning supplies to a higher location to avoid poisoning.
  3. Disconnect all electrical appliances immediately and never attempt to touch them if they are wet or while you are standing in water.
  4. If your house has basements, seal all the vents to avoid seepage of flood water through them.
  5. Look out for fire hazards like damaged gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces.
Besides these precautionary measures you must have the right combination of insurance plans so that you avoid last-minute surprises and don’t end up paying out-of-pocket for repairs. Consider opting for add-ons that are most useful for flooding especially if you live where monsoon disaster is a yearly episode.


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