<strong>By: Cloud Saungweme, Chief Claims Officer, Bryte Insurance Company Limited</strong>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As extreme weather events are increasing in severity, frequency, and unpredictability, insurers must adjust their risk methodologies accordingly.  This is not just about reacting and adapting to climate change-related financial risk, but is also about partnering with organisations, such as meteorological institutions, to proactively understand, prepare and inform clients with regard to adaptation and mitigation measures.  There are even opportunities for insurers to consider engaging with the engineering sector, using claims insights and mapping meteorological data to inform the recalibration of their designs for roads and other infrastructure. This would ensure that infrastructure planning evolves in line with the demands of changing weather patterns thereby reducing potholes, mud-slides and loss of life/property damage from building and roof collapses. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The problem is further compounded in Southern Africa which is warming up at double the global rate.  It is predicted that this will likely result in more extreme rainfall events and more intense thunderstorms. The consequences of this on the insurance industry are predictable; more damage and an uptick in the frequency of claims, exposing businesses and sometimes whole industries to risk, while pushing up premiums related to such events. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A holistic and collaborative approach to collectively managing and mitigating for these extreme weather events – preferably even before they happen – is required.  Working together, will result in safer customers, reduced damage from unexpected events and better managed claims and premium impacts. A win for insurers and their clients.</span>

<h3><b><i>Do you have any idea yet how much the estimated claims will be from the Durban floods and storm?</i></b></h3>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The total value of the estimated claims is not something we have a clear indication of currently -  these things take time to unfold - but we certainly anticipate an increase. For us though, the focus is not on the value of the claims, it’s on what we can do on the ground right now to assist our customers through what is certainly a very difficult situation.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We have already communicated with our brokers to ensure they understand the expedited claims process set in motion for people affected by the KZN/Durban floods.  Our focus continues to be on proactively empowering our customers to meet their most urgent needs by making their claims processes as quick and seamless as possible.  </span>