Be prepared in the event of a storm to protect your property and belongings
Being proactive and ready is a sensible approach to avoid having to deal with the aftermath of a storm. This is even more important if you live in a potential flood area or a location that has many trees surrounding your property, it is therefore practical to take a few steps to protect your home, belongings and vehicles.
There are often storm and flood warnings ahead of time, so set notifications up on your phone so you hear about them in good time. If you know that you are vulnerable to storms and floods, track the weather regularly and ensure you have checked before you leave the house for a longer period of time.
Here are some simple steps you can take to prevent any serious damage:
- Inspect your roof and make sure that there are no lose tiles or holes, check that any aerials are secure.
- Clean all your gutters and drain-pipes to avoid blockages.
- Maintain your trees and keep them well trimmed, if any are too close to the house ask a tree surgeon/gardener to check if they are safe.
- Make sure you know where to turn the water, gas and electricity off in case of an emergency.
- Ensure your valuables and memories are locked away in waterproof containers, which are clearly labelled.
- Take the time to work out an evacuation plan and ensure all members of the family know what to do in case of an emergency. Practice it a few times to make sure it works.
- Keep an emergency first aid kit in an accessible place.
There are more proactive things that you can do if you live in a flood area such as:
- Use ceramic tiles on your ground level floors.
- Put all electrical sockets higher up.
- Have kitchen cupboards above ground level.
- Have a generator on hand.
- Install one-way non-return valves for drainage systems, flood doors and impact resistant glass for windows.
- Replace standard air bricks with smart bricks
- Install storm shutters and get temporary flood protection equipment that can help keep floodwater out of your home.
If you know that a storm is about to hit, and you have a vehicle make sure that there is plenty of fuel in it so that you can leave, if you need to. Put your vehicle in the garage or park it away from trees or anything that could fall on it. If you do need to go out in your vehicle, ensure you have blankets, water bottles and food in your car in case of getting stranded enroute.
It is also important to make sure that you have the correct insurance in place, we can help – as independent brokers we have access to a wide variety of insurance policies, which we can tailor to your specific circumstances. Please give us a call to discuss what you need, 01905 21681.