9 ways to protect your property during load shedding periods
Santam wants residents to consider mitigating risks that may be caused by power cut.
Eskom announced a stage 2 rotational load shedding which started yesterday evening and will continue into tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10 pm.
The personal lines underwriting manager at Santam, Marius Steyn, says South Africans need to mitigate the damages caused by load shedding by being prepared before power going off.
Santam released a media statement that provides locals with 9 ways to protect their property during load shedding.
“The reality is, load shedding has an immense impact on consumers and businesses alike – who must cope with the damage to appliances brought on by power surges or risk loss through theft, burglary as a result of faulty security systems,” said Steyn.
Steyn cautions consumers and provides things to consider mitigating risks that may be caused by power cuts:
1. When it comes to alarm systems it is important to ensure that your alarm is in working condition and that you have a fully charged backup battery.
2. Always keep a spare torch with you so that even when you arrive at home when it’s dark, you can have access to light.
3. Make sure that you have your emergency contact information on your phone but also keep a paper copy safe and accessible. This should include the emergency services such as the fire department, police, and medical services. Also include contact information of friends and family along with insurance information.
4. Keep your devices such as cell phone, laptop, and tablet charged. It is also a good idea to have a power bank with you so that you can charge from there if your battery runs low during the load shedding.
5. Get a small LP gas bottle and lamp. It gives good quality lighting for a large area and can also be used for cooking and boiling water. It’s a good idea to keep hot water in a thermal flask so that you can make hot drinks, also consider preparing meals beforehand if you know when there’s going to be a scheduled blackout.
6. Keeping emergency water stored is easy when frozen. This frozen bottled water will help keep food cold during a power outage and will also not spoil.
7. Unplug any electronic devices or equipment or switch it off at the wall, including telephone cables. This is due to the surges in power that may occur when electricity is restored.
8. Electric surges are one of the biggest causes of damage to equipment during a power outage. Installing a surge protection device can help minimise some damage in unforeseen situations. Have a surge protection device fitted to your electrical distribution board or at the power outlet to the electronic device.
9. Back up your data: It is always important to back up data, make it a priority to save your data offsite, in case of a hard drive crash or unforeseen electrical fault.
“To prevent unforeseen damage and losses, we urge households to revisit their insurance cover and obtain advice from their brokers to take into account different circumstances and risk situations which may arise as a result of power cuts,” concludes Steyn.
For the load shedding schedule, you can visit; https://loadshedding.eskom.co.za
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