Santam receives 160 weather-related claims in 48 hours

Santam, the country’s largest short-term insurer says it has been flooded with insurance claims. An estimated 160 claims were received during the past 48 hours for damages caused by inclement weather that has affected parts of the province.

Over the weekend high gale force winds have resulted in the spread of fire in the areas of Stellenbosch and Fish Hoek area. The company also registered a large claim for Blaauwklippen, which is arguably Stellenbosch’s oldest wine farm.

Storm damages were experienced in the Paarl, Strand, Wellington, Somerset West, Muizenberg, Gordons Bay, Vredehoek, Three Anchor Bay area. By early Monday morning the insurer had registered about 160 claims and expects this number to increase significantly as those areas are still experiencing adverse weather conditions.

“It is too early to quantify the extent of the damage or how much the claims could possibly amount to. What we do know however is that the frequency and severity of extreme weather events is increasing and would therefore advise the public to take precautions where possible,” said Rowland Ramalingam, Santam’s Head of Non-Motor Claims.

The company has activated its Catastrophe Claims Management protocols, which has seen it deploy to affected areas to service policyholders and expedite the filing of claims. From the claims filed by this morning, damage includes roofs blown off and trees falling on properties. Santam assessors on the ground have confirmed that most damage will be of high value due to the gale force winds.

#capeStorm 🌨️
These conditions. Yo!
Are you doing OK over in Southern Subs?!
Sunday 7 April 2024
— via Yvette du Preez 📹#capeWeather pic.twitter.com/ma6M9C4nLl
— ᑕᗩᑭE TOᗯᑎ (@CapeTown) April 7, 2024

Following reports from the South African Weather Service that the Western Cape will continue to experience inclement conditions over the coming days, Santam has advised the public to note the following tips in order to minimise the possibility of being affected:

ROAD USE TIPS:

Use a GPS or App-related maps to find viable routes to use when travelling in the affected areas.
Drive slowly – slower driving minimises damages linked to storms and combats slippery roads.
If affected, locate a safe, covered area immediately or pull over under an overpass, provided it is safe to do so.
Undercover parking at malls and petrol stations is a good temporary solution to protecting your car during a severe downpour.
If you are affected by a storm, immediately report the incident to your insurer.

PROPERTY TIPS:

In the event of heavy rain, always try and divert water ‘runoff’ away from your house, if possible.
Identify areas where water is likely to pool and flood into your home and address these by installing preventative measures such as a dry well. You could also consider installing tubes and pipes which could facilitate water into and out of the well.
Ensure that stormwater infrastructure and the road on your property is kept clean. Conventional stormwater infrastructure quickly drains stormwater to rivers and streams, driving the water away from your property.
Pack an emergency box. If you live in an area that’s known for flooding, please make sure you know what to do when your house floods.

Santam policyholders are reminded that they can call the 24/7 claims and emergency helpline 0860 505 911 or lodge a query via the Santam client site or Santam app.