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How to protect your home during Storm Eowyn

How to protect your home during Storm Eowyn
Emma Lunn
Written By:
Posted:
24/01/2025
Updated:
24/01/2025

Millions of people have been ordered to stay at home as Storm Eowyn sweeps across the UK.

Red weather warnings have been issued for Scotland and Northern Ireland, while more than 700,000 homes are without power in Ireland. Rail services, flights and ferries have been cancelled, with the storm likely to damage homes, uproot trees and cause power cuts.

Damage caused by storms and flooding is covered by most standard home insurance and comprehensive car insurance.

Jonathan Fong, ABI’s manager of general insurance policy, said: “As the first named storm of 2025 approaches, many homes and businesses across the country will be braced for potential disruption and damage. But we’d like to reassure people that insurers expect bad weather to strike at any time and are geared up to deal with events like this. Their priority will be to help affected customers recover as quickly as possible.”

Get ready for Storm Eowyn

Follow official advice

Keep a close eye on weather warnings and follow advice from the Met Office, the Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

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Prepare an emergency kit

An emergency kit can help you be prepared for bad weather conditions, whether you are at home or in your car.

You should have the following prepared:

  • A charged mobile phone and a charged power bank
  • Useful phone numbers, such as your home and car insurer
  • Candles or tealights and a lighter or matches
  • Warm clothing or blankets
  • Non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking

 

Be ready for flooding

If you’re at risk of a flood, ensure you have made the following preparations:

  • Knowledge of how to turn off your power supply and gas and water
  • A note of the emergency numbers for your utility companies and insurers
  • Sufficient drinking water for your household
  • A waterproof bag for important documents like passports, essential medication, a torch, a first aid kit and your mobile phone

 

What to do if your home is damaged

Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Most will have 24-hour emergency helplines to ensure you get advice on what to do and arrange repairs as quickly as possible.

If necessary, arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop any damage getting worse. If you have to arrange emergency repairs yourself, tell your insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of your claim.

Don’t be in a rush to throw away damaged items, unless they are a danger to health, as these may be able to be repaired or restored.

Claim power outage compensation

You may be eligible for compensation from your energy network operator if you’re left without power because of a storm. Your energy network operator is different from your energy supplier – you can find out who it is via the Energy Networks Association.

You’ll get £80 if the power was off for 24 hours for a category 1 storm. If it was a category 2 storm, you’ll get £80 if the power was off for 48 hours.

For each additional six hours the power is off, you can get another £40 up to a maximum of £2,000.