Tips to Ensure Asset Protection from Natural Disasters

how to protect assets from natural disaster — (Source: worldatlas)

Natural disasters are unforeseen yet disastrous incidents. This is why you should be prepared to protect your property or assets from such catastrophes.

Apart from adopting preventive measures, the wisest choice is to get an insurance plan that provides asset protection against earthquakes, cyclones, floods, landslides, and other such events.

Want to know about these preventive measures in detail? Keep reading!

Awareness About Protecting Assets from Disasters

Super cyclone Amphan landed in India-Bangladesh territory, which was one of the most deadly tropical cyclones. It resulted in an economic loss of $14 billion.

It had set such an example of the destruction of property that the internet was flooded with the question “what to do if your house floods?”

On that note, here is a detailed discourse on what constitute important assets to protect against natural disasters.

Assets comprise your home, valuables, furniture, vehicles, etc. To broadly categorise, it can be considered under 2 heads -

House and its contents.
Vehicles

In India, a house is the most costly property. However, only 1% of houses are under homeowner insurance, although home insurance is as affordable as other insurances and has a yearly premium scheme.

There is no full-proof answer on how to prevent flooding in home. However, insurance companies have the exact solution to recover the cost of damage due to flooding.

Homeowner insurance has various clauses under them. Some cover natural disasters, while others do not. Therefore, before you buy any insurance, know its terms and conditions very well.

Fortunately, vehicle insurance is made compulsory for all vehicle owners, and it covers damages caused by natural calamities.

To avail the facilities and save your property from natural disaster awareness and updated information is very necessary.

Best Tips to Protect Assets from Natural Disaster

Here are some tips on precautions of disaster management -

Buy home insurance that covers the damage of the house and its contents by natural disaster.
Before taking vehicle insurance, know the details of its coverage.
Insurance for every electrical gadget is available; however, check out if it covers damage by natural calamities.
Get insurance for valuables and collectables.
Make the structure of the home strong enough to withstand storms, earthquakes, floods, etc. Know how to block wind from the house, how to stop flood water from entering your home, etc.
Construct high walls across your home for house flood protection if you stay in a flood-prone zone. Install check valves for sewer pipes to stop flood water enter through your drainage system.
Adopt safer construction practices for the earthquake.
The importance of safe construction practices during disasters is unavoidable. Therefore, test the soil, consult with experts and make strong constructions of your property.
Move your vehicles into a safer zone.
Unplug electrical gadgets during any natural disaster and keep them in the safe zone of the home.
Before building construction, check the soil to know if the area is prone to landslides. Do not make constructions at the edge of the mountain or on hilly slopes.
Keep updated with the management of natural disasters.
Try preventing common human-induced disasters like deforestation, littering plastics and garbage that can affect the drainage system, using heavy vibrators in mountain regions, etc.

Homeowner Insurance to Protect Your Home from Natural Disasters

A home insurance policy should be taken as a safety measure during natural disasters. All homeowner policies do not cover damage under natural disasters. However, check the details of insured disasters before you buy one.

Some homeowner insurance providers with “insured disasters” have a compulsory 5% deductible in case of natural disasters. Conversely, many insurers do not apply deductibles to individual homeowners insurance at all.

Homeowner policies cover -

Damage of interior and exterior contents or assets of the house.
Personal properties.
Personal liabilities for any damage or injuries to someone else.
Damage to the structure of the house or property.

How to Protect Electronic Appliances from Natural Disasters?

Home insurance policy covering natural disasters provides the cost of damage of any electronic appliances inside and outside the affected insured property. Therefore, homeowner policy is all in one package protection from natural disasters.

How to Protect Automobiles from Natural Disasters?

A comprehensive vehicle insurance policy answers the question; how to prevent natural disasters from affecting your automobiles. Before buying insurance for vehicles, check if it covers the damage caused by an accident and natural calamities.

By taking safety measures and opting for the right insurance plan, you can ensure protection against earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, floods, or any other natural disaster. However, besides protecting the assets, you also have to protect yourself and the community. Spread awareness and support your community during natural calamities. We all together can face difficult times and recover from the loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ Within how many days should I inform the insurance company about the damage and loss incurred due to natural disasters?

Within 7-15 days, the insurance company should be informed about the damage or loss incurred.

✓ How do you stay safe during high winds?

During high wind, move to the basement or middle of the home far from glass windows or beside unstable doors.

✓ How to protect crops from natural disasters?

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna is an insurance scheme to provide financial aid to the farmers for damages due to natural disasters.