Singapore is no stranger to dramatic weather, due to the island’s unique combination of geography and meterology.
Thankfully, the typhoons and squalls that cause severe havoc elsewhere in the region generally unleash relatively mild flash floods here. But local people are mindful of the power of unrelenting rain.
The worst Singapore floods took place in 1969, 1978 and 2006, leaving many citizens upset over delayed travel, ruined cars, furniture or goods. Flooding in 2010 alone caused around $23 million worth of damage.
Flash Floods Take Their Toll
This month’s flash floods hit commuters hardest as motorists were stranded in a artificial lake on the AYE . In Bukit Timah, trees were uprooted by the storm and tumbled onto cars; a Jaguar bearing the brunt of a large fallen tree at Dunearn Road, with its exterior crushed. Two cars were also hit by a tree outside Singapore Visitors Centre.
Two lorries and a car broke down at the junction of Commonwealth Avenue and Commonwealth Drive, with water levels reaching the car's steering wheel.
A spokeman for Singapore’s national water agency PUB, said the heaviest rainfall was recorded at Kent Ridge, where several buildings at the National University of Singapore were submerged in knee-high water. Are We Prepared?
Over the last few years, the Government and the national water agency PUB have invested more than $2 billion to upgrade drainage, significantly reducing the risk to flood-prone areas. But with all our precious property at stake, how can Singaporeans be better prepared for flooding?
Standard insurance policies often don't cover damage from floods so it makes sense to check your current home and car insurance to see if you are properly protected. And if you’re not, it would be wise to get flood coverage before your life savings become a wash out.
Does Your Car Insurance Cover Natural Disasters?
Many of us saw the dramatic news footage of flooded cars parked outdoors or at the lower levels of HDB carparks. The good news is that if you take out comprehensive car insurance with DirectAsia.com you will be covered if your car is damaged by floods or other natural disasters.
Does Your Basic Fire Insurance Cover Flooding?
In a word. No. You are not covered against flood damage by basic fire insurance. Mandatory fire insurance ONLY covers the cost of rebuilding or repairing any structural damage to your building. If you are living in an area that is prone to flooding, you should get a home content insurance policy that will protect your possessions.
And it isn’t just landed home owners in low-lying areas that are at risk, if your home is in a Condo or HDB, think about protecting prized possessions that could be damaged by rainwater overflow from the roof or corridors.
Get Protected
With DirectAsia.com, you can rest assured that your home insurance policy will hold up. With us, your home contents, fixtures and fittings will be covered in the event of a fire, explosion, storm or flood, earthquake, tsunami, lightning, burst or overflowing pipes, theft, attempted theft, vandalism or malicious damage. We'll even repair or pay out a cash sum for loss or damage to home contents including valuables, cash and legal documents. That’s a relief!
We know that life can be stormy sometimes. It’s our job to help you to be prepared, so you can weather the storms. That’s why, when it comes to buying your car or home insurance, we provide great, low cost insurance, along with amazing customer service. So you can cope, survive, and even thrive.