Danger of lightning underestimated

Awesome as they are, the Highveld storms that many people have come to enjoy could potentially cause untold damage to property. 

While South Africa has one of the highest lightning strike rates in the world; it is one of the most underestimated natural disasters. Summer is also traditionally the season for fires, floods and hailstorms.

Lightning strikes do not have to hit the house directly to cause damage; often appliances and telephone lines are affected by the lightning striking underground irrigation systems and boreholes which act as conductors for  those electrical surges.

A strike has the ability of penetrating deep underground with a very wide surface spread as well.

Many businesses and home owners, lodge insurance claims for the replacement of appliances, machines, electric fences, geysers, pool pump equipment and gate motors damaged by lightning. Call your insurance company and check the detail around weather related claims. 

Some parts of the country are more prone to lightning than others, therefore, some insurance policies restrict lighting damage cover by adding an additional excess, applying stricter underwriting conditions or in some cases, excluding cover altogether.

There’s not too much you can do about sudden weather disasters, but there are certain measures you can take to minimise the impact of these risks, says Guy Denichaud, technical specialist and risk analyst at Santam. Santam is a partner of 49M, a South African campaign that supports the efficient use of electricity.

While hail and flood storms are prevalent on the Highveld between November and January, February is usually a high ­alert month for seasonal fires in the Western Cape. This month is usually associated with strong winds and temperatures rise to highs of 42°C – ripe conditions for wild and runaway fires.

So what can you do to minimise loss in the case of a severe weather event?

To reduce the risk of fire, make sure that your house is properly maintained and has surge protection and early warning systems, and that all fire regulations are adhered to, including maintenance of fire equipment, creation of fire breaks, and installation of sprinkler systems.

There are a number of ways home-owners can protect their property and its contents against lightning.

These include:

• Switch off and/or unplug appliances, computers and televisions during a storm;
• Install a lightning protection system;
• Install surge protectors on plug points;
• Check the trees on your property. Homes surrounded by large trees are at risk because the tallest tree in the area is usually the target for lightning, and if it collapses, it could possibly cause damage to your own and even neighbouring homes.
• Make sure your insurance policy is up to date and includes cover for lightning damage. Also check if surge protectors are required.
• Make sure that if a lightning conductor is a pre-requisite, it is kept in good order and adheres to the SANS regulations;
• Make sure firefighting equipment, extinguishers, smoke detectors and sprinkler systems  are maintained.

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Also read:

Storm saai verwoesting

Summer storms around the corner

Six killed, five injured by lightning

R’fontein man struck by lightning

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