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Save your home from Cyclone Tauktae

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Published on May 17, 2021. EST READ TIME: 2 minutes

The cyclone season is here and it’s the wrath of nature that keeps on reminding us to take to take climate change seriously. Cyclone Tauktae has hit the western coastline hard this time.

Gale-force winds, heavy rainfall and high tidal waves swept the coastal belt of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa as Cyclone Tauktae hurtled northwards towards Gujarat. Strong winds with speed reaching up to 90 km/per were lashing the western coastal region. According to the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD, by May 18 the wind speed is expected to increase to 150-160 km per hour, gusting up to 175 km per hour.

An estimated 1.5 lakh people are being shifted from low-lying coastal areas in Gujarat while 54 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the state.

Many houses were damaged in coastal areas across the state as seawater seeped in following high waves. According to the state government, at least nine districts have been severely affected by sea incursion.

This is where home insurance becomes vital. It helps in safeguarding your house especially if you are living in a flood prone area.

Floods and Home Insurance

The concept of home insurance is gradually gaining traction as people realise the value of protecting their homes financially. Especially, if you live in a state where floods are frequent and can destroy your home and its contents in a matter of minutes. If you choose Flood Insurance (which is a subset of home insurance), you will be compensated for flood-related damage repairs. 

As a result of this clause, the insured party will be protected in the event of floods caused by a variety of factors such as overflowing rivers, water logging caused by incessant rain during the monsoon season, or even seawater entering city space due to tidal conditions. 

Inclusions of flood cover

The coverage is determined by the policy wording and may vary from one policy to the next. However, the following inclusions and exclusions are generally included in flood insurance: 

• Any partial or complete damage done to the structure of your house

• Water leakage ruining the flooring

• Water seepage weakening the structural strength

• Any damage caused due to a short circuit induced by water leakage

• Damage to contents like furniture, appliances, or expensive personal belongings like jewellery and paintings

Exclusions of flood cover:

• If the damage can’t be attributed to floods, you will not get a claim

• Any items that are usually outside the house like vehicles, fences, swimming pools, etc. are not covered 

• If the personal belongings damaged due to floodwater are out of warranty period or if any insured items have been replaced or repaired without intimating the insurance company, your claim request will not be entertained

• If the surveyor notices any foul play or evidence of negligence or any undisclosed information, your claim will get rejected

• If you don’t inform the insurer about the damage in the specified time

• The policy does not cover the cost of debris removal

As a policyholder, you must carefully read your policy terms and conditions to understand the inclusions and exclusions in order to avoid filing a faulty claim request.  During this testing times staying safe is the only important thing and that can be done only if you know your home is safe and insured. . As a resident in a flood-prone state like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa or Karnataka you should protect your homes and savings with a home insurance policy that includes flood insurance.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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