ICA urges property owners to complete final details of bushfire preparation
Media contact:
Media adviser
02 9253 5161 0432 121 116
Twitter: @ICAUS
Page
1
of
2
December 1
8
, 2014
ICA urg
es
property
owners to
complete
final details
of bushfire preparation
With bushfire emergency warnings in place for parts of Victoria and South Australia,
and
fire emergency crews battling bushfires in the Barossa Valley
,
Insurance Council
of Australia CEO Rob Whelan is urging residents of bushfire
-
prone areas to make
sure they are adequately prepared for an emergency.
�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?
time to review the processes y
ou have in place to make sure that you
and your family stay safe in case of a bushfire, and that your home is protected
�?�?�?�?�?�?
sa
ys
.
�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?
s
imple steps
,
such as clearing the gutters or trimming
overhanging trees
,
can help prevent colossal damage to properties and even save
lives.
�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?
with the fire danger rating, draw up a bushfire survival plan and discuss it with your
family.
�?
M
r Whelan sa
ys
that underinsurance is one of the main issues regarding businesses
and properties built in bushfire
-
prone areas.
�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?
-
risk areas would have to comply with
stringent Bushfire Attack Level requirements, on
top of normal rebuilding costs such
as demolition, site clearance, planning and development permissions. This could
leave underinsured business and property owners in serious financial distress.
�?
Mr Whelan urge
s
property owners to review their insurance p
olicies, assess their risk
and update their sum insured when necessary.
�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?
inclusions and exclusions, contact your insurer.
Updating your policy today could
save you heartache and
financial damage later
�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?
ys
.
Financial literacy website Understand Insurance features tips to assist you in your
bushfire preparations
. U
seful tips include
:
�?
Finding out from your local council if you live in a bushfire
-
prone area
�?
Seek
ing
a professio
nal assessment of your individual Bushfire Attack level
�?
Reviewing your home and contents policies and check your sum insured to
avoid underinsurance
. Have you prepared a room
-
by
-
room inventory?
Media contact:
Media adviser
02 9253 5161 0432 121 116
Twitter: @ICAUS
Page
2
of
2
December 1
8
, 2014
-
CONTINUED
-
�?
Moving woodpiles or flammable materials away
from your property and
clearing the leaves from your gutter
�?
Contacting your local fire service and following their guidelines on how to
prepare for a bushfire
�?
Checking that your vehicles are insured. Compulsory third party insurance
does not cover damage o
r destruction caused by fire.
�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?
here
or find out more
information on bushfire preparation and rec
overy on
Understand Insurance website
.
Watch
the
testimonial
of Winmalee Resident Richard Hurst, whose insurance cover
enabled him to rebuild
his
house
,
which had been destroyed in the 20
1
3 Blue
Mountains bushfires.
-
ENDS
-
