Advice on how to batten down the hatches

Confused.com experiences 141% uplift in quote traffic as Britain was battered by bad weather over the weekend.

This weekend saw parts of the country experience heavy downfalls of rain, lightening storms and even earthquakes in South Wales. As the price comparison site experienced a massive surge in traffic (enquiring about home insurance) they offer top tips how to protect homes as bad weather looks set to stay.

BEFORE THE FLOODS

South West Wales took a battering this weekend by many of Mother Nature's elements. Flash flooding was one of the things she threw at the area, submerging some homes. As the wet weather is set to stay, Confused.com offers tips on how the damage can be limited:

Move as much furniture as possible upstairs. If you do not have an upstairs, raise the furniture off the ground

Unplug electrical equipment and store as high as possible

Turn off mains supplies of water, gas and electricity

Place sandbags outside your property. This will reduce the amount of water able to get into a house

Locate your home insurance policy details. If you need to call and make a claim, make sure you have policy details and telephone numbers

Keep sentimental items such as jewellery and photos in a safe place. These cannot be replaced, so make sure they are high and dry

AFTER THE FLOODS HAVE HIT

As the British summer does not mean dry, sunny spells, below is advice for those who experience flooding as a result of the continued rain:

Call the insurer as soon as possible after the water has entered your home. They will then assign drying equipment to the home which will speed up the process

Open windows and doors where appropriate to help ventilate the home

Take photographs of damaged items. This could insist the insurer in settling claims quickly

Keep ruined furniture until after the claim has been settled. Some providers may want to inspect the damage

ROCKING REGIONS

Residents in the Bridgend region of South Wales experienced the biggest earthquake in the area for more than three decades (according to experts). Measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale, houses were shaking, rocking and rolling around the epicentre which occurred on Friday evening. Residents reported they had felt several tremors prior to this, so Confused.com offers advice for homeowners should they continue to rock:

Be sure what you are covered for. Earthquake damage is covered by many providers but be sure of the processes behind a claim. It will involve structural engineers and a technical process

WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES...

As recent downfalls have followed a very hot spell, areas of the country are at risk of lightning storms. The damage high voltage can cause your home includes: fire, loss of power, electrical equipment damage and structural problems. In order to limit the likelihood of such occurrences, the Met Office offer a few simple tips:

Unplug all non-essential appliances including TV's as lightning strikes can cause power surges

Do not use the phone when there is an electrical storm outside. Lightning can travel through phone lines

Avoid using taps and sinks as they are metal and therefore conductors of electricity

If you are outside, stay away from water and find a low-lying open place which is away from trees, poles or metal objects

Darren Black, head of home insurance at Confused.com said: "I am concerned that the activity on our site suggests people think of home insurance when the weather threatens homes. Comprehensive cover should be in place all year round as the weather in this country is changeable to say the least, with residents experiencing flooding, lightning and earthquakes within 24 hours. Be insured against the elements as the weather continues to cause problems for some parts of the country."

For all scenario's, Confused.com encourages homeowners to check policy details outlining cover for alternative accommodation, new for old replacement items and rebuild costs offered by the provider. As many homeowners mistakenly believe re-build costs are the same as market value of a property, many pay over the odds on premiums. As the re-build figure is considerably less than the market value, the comparison website offers a calculator which will help homeowners work out the accurate re-build cost of the home. Such a tool ensures no one pays over the odds when insurance shopping on their site.