Before a storm
Stay informed
The Met Office can usually give 3 or 4 days’ advance warning of a storm. So stay up to date with the latest forecasts and add your postcode to the live weather feed.
Ways to protect your home in advance
- As it’s the outside of your home where most storm damage occurs, that’s where to begin, starting from the top.
- Take a look at your roof. Are there any loose or broken tiles that could come off and injure people or damage property? As professional roofers are usually inundated with work after a bad storm, a timely bit of maintenance now could save you a lot of bother later.
- Check your guttering. Make sure it’s securely fitted and unblocked. As with tiles, loose guttering can be dangerous if the wind gets under it. Even if it doesn’t detach from your property, broken guttering can cause water damage in a storm.
- Storm damage to fences and gates may not be covered by your insurer. Make sure they are sturdy and secure.
- Bins, large pot plants, barbeques, gazebos and garden furniture can all be blown around dangerously during a storm. If you can’t secure them, try to move them further away from your home or to more sheltered parts of the garden. Storm damage to things in the open within your home may not be covered by your insurer.
- Check the seals around your windows and doors.
Have an emergency checklist
- Have an emergency kit ready, including a torch with batteries, candles and matches, tinned food, warm clothing and blankets.
- Have contact details of local roofers, heating engineers and electricians, plus your utility companies.
- Keep important documents handy like your home insurance policy and policy number.
- Put your policy's claims line number in your mobile, so it's with you at all times. Visit our Contact Us page to find the right number.