A little more than a week after the frenzy of natural elements that brought record losses to people, rains are again predicted in Lithuania. Insurers urge you not to repeat last week's scenario and to take care of vehicles, housing, property in yards, terraces and balconies, and most importantly, the safety of yourself and your loved ones.
The insurance company "Gjensidige" has registered more than 820 reports of damage to people's housing, other buildings and vehicles due to last week's natural disaster in the Baltic States, and has already compensated a fifth of the victims. Reserved amount in Lithuania, in Latvia and in Estonia reached 1,4 million in a week. euros.
Staying away from the storm is the best habit
"Even though the peak of claims ended earlier this week, we are still receiving reports of storm damage. People return from holidays to find damage to their homes or vehicles. This time, unfortunately, we can really call it a record. The inhabitants of Lithuania mostly experienced unpleasant consequences of hail - cars, house facades, roofs and windows were damaged by pieces of ice. If a residential house is damaged by hail, we will pay 20 thousand to compensate for the losses. EUR, for the damaged commercial building - 50 thousand. euros", says Viktorija Katilienė, head of the claims department for the Baltic countries of the Gjensidige insurance company.
She points out that the rain is also dangerous for people's property: "During the rain, the water in the client's living quarters rose as much as 60 cm, and the first floors, basements and terraces of the houses were also damaged."
As meteorologists report possible dangerous natural phenomena after the heat wave, V. Katilienė urges to take care that last week's scenario does not repeat itself: to take all possible measures in advance and to protect oneself from natural elements. According to her, small things help to avoid big losses.
It is safest to refuse entertainment in the forest
At the moment, many people are on vacation, so V. Katilienė recommends not to go on picnics in nature or spend the night in tents while waiting for the rain. "Many people go to the forests to pick mushrooms and berries, so it is important to responsibly assess whether the weather conditions are suitable for this activity. Our experience shows that a strong wind in the forest can break and even topple trees and endanger the lives of vacationers," says the representative of the insurance company.
Although, according to V. Katilienė, people know that it is not recommended to park cars under trees, and when a storm is approaching, driving on a forested road should be avoided, but statistics reveal that these habits are still practiced. "It doesn't matter if you drive the vehicle into a garage, under a carport, or leave it in an underground parking lot, this will be the most effective way to protect the car from the effects of natural elements. If you encounter hail while driving, you should stop at the nearest gas station or under an overpass," says the head of the Insurance Claims Department for the Baltic States.
When leaving the house, she advises to assess the condition of the roof, and to strengthen possible cracks and unstable parts. "Don't forget the things in the yard that the wind can pick up and blow away or overturn. It is recommended for the owners of private houses to even push the garbage containers into the garage or outbuilding, to collect yard equipment. We advise apartment residents not to leave easily lifted objects on the balconies," says the representative of the insurance company.
Top 3 tips for keeping your property safe when a storm approaches
- Securely close garage doors, apartment doors and windows. If possible, make sure they are sealed. Otherwise, the downpour can damage the property inside the garage and inside the house.
- Protect electrical equipment. If possible, move this equipment out of garages and basements to a safe location, or at least turn it off. Failure to turn off the power poses a risk to people's safety, rain or lightning can damage equipment or even cause a fire.
- Make way for water to drain. In case of heavy rain, you can open the rain drain covers or grates. This will help the flow of water to drain faster.
