Storm And Flood Damage, Your Home Insurance

Most home insurance will cover flood and storm damage. As a minimum you should have buildings insurance which covers you against the costs of repairing, or in extreme cases rebuilding your home, but you would be wise to also take out contents insurance to protect your belongings.

Although you may have home and contents insurance, flood or storm damage can be very messy, time consuming and expensive to repair, and although you can buy new things, items with sentimental value will not be replaceable. To avoid damage to your property from storms and floods, keep your house properly maintained. Prevent leaks by checking your roof and replacing any missing or damaged tiles. Gutters should be cleared of debris such as dead leaves. Cut back overhanging or dead branches which could fall down in high winds.

Your computer should be backed up regularly in any case, but you may not be aware that lightning strikes can cause electricity surges that may damage your computer and other electrical appliances. Water from leaks or floods can also damage your hard drive and electrical equipment. While you can replace a computer, important files like family photographs would be lost. In a storm, unplug electrical equipment, not forgetting your telephones.

If you believe a storm or flood is likely, move precious and valuable items upstairs if possible, and put important documents including your insurance documents in a watertight container. If that is not possible, because the item is too big or too heavy such as a fridge, try to raise it up off the floor for example with bricks.

Be prepared for the potential after effects by looking out your first aid kit, a battery operated radio, bottles of water and non-perishable food, and keep your pets inside.

If you have been unlucky enough to suffer serious flood or storm damage, the cost of alternative accommodation may be included in your home insurance policy, although very cheap policies are less likely include this. Consider your needs carefully when you buy your home insurance policy and dont just automatically go for the cheapest. It may be worth paying a slightly higher premium to make sure you have the financial protection you would need if your home and belongings were badly damaged.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible if your home or possessions are damaged by storm or flood, and do not throw away damaged items because the insurance company may be able to repair them and may not pay out to replace them. If it is very inconvenient or dangerous to keep damaged items, then take photographs as evidence before disposing of them.

Things to look for in a good home insurance policy include the cleaning, repair or replacement of damaged items, including the physical structure of your home. It is worth thinking about where you would like if your house was made uninhabitable and think about cover for the cost of alternative accommodation. Make sure you do not underestimate the value of your belongings or property, and remember to keep an inventory with receipts so that you can prove your losses if the worst should happen.