This spring and summer’s El Niño weather conditions are also forecasted to bring more temperature anomalies across Pacific regions. What does this mean for Seymour residents? Potentially, this spring will see a higher frequency of high atmospheric pressure fluctuations, creating the perfect conditions for volatile rainfall and thunderstorms. Flooding is also a risk for residents located across the Goulburn Valley and around Mitchell Shire.
Here are a few ways you can prepare your property for anticipated El Niño weather conditions.
Schedule electrical maintenance for your property
Among the biggest points of concern that come with spring rain and storm conditions are elevated risks of damage to your home’s electrical systems. Lightning strikes during electrical storms can affect local energy infrastructure, and sometimes even cause direct physical damage to distribution boxes, fused mains boxes, switchboards, and other electrical fixtures.
Susceptibility to seasonal damage is the main reason why electricians recommend homeowners book an electrical safety inspection for their property at least every 1-3 years, with more frequent appointments for older homes (over 20 to 25 years old). If you’re yet to schedule your next electrical maintenance appointment, then be sure to do so in the leadup to spring storm season.
If you don’t have a dedicated electrical service provider for your property, then be sure to connect with one promptly. While we have a good network of local emergency electricians to handle emergency callouts, a proactive approach to electrical safety is always recommended – especially in the leadup to storm season.
With a professional electrical safety inspection, you can not only ensure your home’s electrical system is healthy and up-to-date, but also that your household’s energy habits don’t contribute to any elevated risk of electrical fires.
For more information on how to reduce risks of electrical fires for your home, check out our seasonal guide here.
Clear your garden and property of hazardous debris
Even if lightning doesn’t strike your property’s electrical equipment directly, damage can still follow from fallen branches and other hazards. The last thing any homeowner wants to deal with is correcting damage to their property during a spring storm. At this time of the year, even a cracked or chipped roof tile can result in water damage to your roof and ceiling cavity, which can quickly snowball into a bigger, costlier problem.
In short, the concept of ‘spring cleaning’ exists for a reason. The best thing that homeowners can do to safeguard their properties from accidental damage during the spring storm season is to ensure there are no damaging hazards or debris present whatsoever.
Consider ticking off these garden chores in anticipation of spring storm season:
- Trim shrubs and overhanging tree branches
- Clear out gutters and downpipes
- Clear surface-level debris (i.e. rake leaves, dried ground cover, broken branches, etc.)
- Pull weeds, condition soil, and refresh mulch
- Service gardening tools
Improve your home’s drainage system
Water pooling on your property during spring storm season can also cause catastrophic damage to your home if left unchecked, including risks of soil erosion, foundation damage, mould growth, and even pest infestations. Not only are termites more at home in damp subfloors, but stagnant puddles across your garden also act as the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insect vectors.
The bad news is that the Goulburn Valley is a high-risk flood area, come winter and spring. In fact, just this July, the Goulburn River’s water level peaked at 5.33m after a week of rainfall – and we can potentially expect similar levels of rainfall this spring. This is precisely why effective drainage and water management systems are a must for all Goulburn Valley residents.
Creating an effective drainage system for your property can start by establishing storm gutters to give excess water a pathway to flow away from your home. And if you already have a strong gutter system in place, make sure all pipes are cleared out before storm season, again!
You should also ensure that all your pipes are in good working order. Fix any leaks before the rainy season starts to prevent indoor flooding and water supply issues. If you detect any leaks, cracks, or holes, work with a roof plumber to rectify these faults as promptly as possible.
Revisit your home insurance cover
Insurance is a crucial, if sometimes underrated, asset to have during the rainy season, but a lot of Aussie homeowners often don’t even know what they’re insured for. So if you’re yet to revisit your insurance policy before spring thunderstorm season, consider this your sign to do so.
We’ve already mentioned potential electrical issues that can cause damage to your home; an insurance policy can help you cover the costs of any repairs. What’s more, a good home insurance policy can also help to protect you against other potential damages, such as warped floors, leaking ceilings, appliances damaged during electrical storms, and even providing financial cover for foods, medicines, and other perishable items that may be spoiled due to a power failure affecting refrigeration appliances.
Besides securing home insurance, it’s also important to revisit insurance coverage for vehicles and other assets (boats and other watercrafts) that may be exposed to the elements this spring. Seymour’s roads can get treacherous when the rains are heavy. While accident prevention should always be your top priority, an auto insurance policy helps you cover any repair costs you might incur if an accident does happen.
Practice road safety
Speaking of treacherous roads, due to wet weather in Seymour and across the region as a whole, residents can expect extra hazards on their commutes all through the storm season this year. When on the road, make sure to always stay alert, and if it’s a particularly rainy day, keep your speed down and turn on your headlights.
There are also steps you can take to prepare for driving during the rainy season. Firstly, make sure that your vehicle is in fine trim: this means repairing any broken windshield wipers, ensuring that your headlights are working, and replacing old tyres.
Residents are also advised to stay up-to-date on weather reports throughout the season, and to avoid driving through flooded roads and causeways wherever possible. You can find updates on road closures and hazardous driving conditions via VicTraffic and local emergency alert radio stations and emergency service providers.
Is your household ready for spring thunderstorms?
From fixes around the house to developing safe travelling habits, preparing for spring thunderstorms will require a comprehensive, multifaceted approach from all households. We’re hopeful, however, that the points covered in the above guide will help local families create their own safety strategies not only for this coming storm season but through this coming El Niño summer as well.
