Winter storms and floods batter England and Wales

As the worst cold snap for 18 years continues, winter storms and floods now threaten the homes of many people in England and Wales. Halifax Home Insurance is advising people to take steps now to minimise damage to properties.

Senior Claims Manager Martyn Foulds says: "We have seen some of the worst snowy and icy conditions for decades recently, and now winter storms, heavy rain and more snow pose a considerable threat to many homes in England and Wales, particularly in southern regions. We are advising homeowners who are at risk to take steps now to reduce the risk of damage to their homes, and to monitor local news and weather regularly to keep updated on the conditions."

A typical claim for storm damage can cost around £1,000, and flood damage can often cost over £20,000, so it is worth taking preventative steps to limit any risk to property.

If your home is at risk of flood

Place sandbags outside doors, airbricks and windows to reduce the amount of flood water entering your property.
Turn off the mains supplies of water, gas and electricity.
Unplug electrical items and store upstairs or as high as possible.
Disconnect pipes to cookers, washing machines and dishwashers to avoid damage to the pipes if appliances move during floods.
Move as much furniture as possible upstairs.
Large items that cannot be moved upstairs should be weighed down with sandbags or heavy objects to ensure they don't float around and cause further damage to property during a severe flood.
If furniture cannot be moved upstairs, empty contents of cupboards and drawers and store as high as possible.
Move rugs and curtains upstairs, or hang them up over curtain rods out of the way of water.
Keep your home insurer's policy details and telephone number to hand in case you need to make a claim following a flood.
Remember to move sentimental items such as photograph albums to a safe place as these cannot be replaced.

If your home has been flooded

Ensure mains supplies of water, electricity and gas have been checked by a qualified engineer before reconnecting.
Dry out appliances that have been affected by flood water and ensure a qualified electrician or CORGI registered gas engineer inspects them before use.
Open doors and windows to ventilate and dry out the property. Ensure your home is completely dried out before attempting any redecorating work.
Contact your insurer and report any damage caused to buildings and/or contents as soon as possible.
Take photographs of damaged items as it may help your insurer to settle a claim.
Keep any ruined property as insurers may want to inspect it.

If your home is at risk of storm damage

Secure any objects which could become hazardous such as garden furniture, barbecues and bicycles, and keep gates and outbuilding doors fastened securely.
Cut back low hanging branches that could cause damage in high winds or storms.
Clear the gutters and drain pipes of any leaves or debris that have built up in them to reduce the risk of blocks and overflows.
Check external light fittings are secure.

In an emergency

Keep a home emergency kit prepared in case of a winter emergency such as a severe storm. This could include torches, spare bulbs and batteries, your home insurance documents, other emergency contact details, tinned food, warm clothing, blankets and a shovel.
Listen to the radio for regular updates on the weather or other emergency situations.
While most home insurance policies cover many eventualities, there are certain emergencies that require something extra. Halifax offers its customers a 24 hour helpline, manned by fully trained colleagues, who can offer you useful information and advice on how to manage a home emergency.
Halifax's Home Emergency Cover provides a 24/7 helpline which, for just over £4 extra a month, guarantees the provision of an approved tradesperson to make your property safe within hours.

Homeowners wanting to find out if they are at risk of flooding can call the Environment Agency Floodline on 0845 988 1188. For further advice on home maintenance visit the Virtual Home at halifax.co.uk/insurance/virtualhome