Buildings collapse and pipes burst as cold weather tightens its grip
Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual is dealing with hundreds of claims from country people hit by the arctic weather conditions.
NFU Mutual's 300 local offices have been on call to help their members get emergency repairs underway for water damage to their homes, and deal with claims.
To help overstretched councils the insurer is providing insurance cover for its farming members to use their tractors clear blocked roads and help tow stranded vehicles.
"We're part of the rural community and are pleased to be able to be able to help by covering our farming members who are doing a sterling job clearing snow blocked roads," said Matthew Scott, NFU Mutual Claims Manager.
To date the worst affected area is the North East of Scotland where over two feet of snow has fallen closely followed by the North East of England.
A particular concern in these areas is farm building roofs collapsing putting farm animals and farmers at risk. Already, weight of snow has resulted in 15 claims for collapsed roofs from the Aberdeen area and 12 from the Borders.
"So far we have had no reports of animals being injured. Often there are warning signs that roofs are going to give way - creaking noises from girders and beams bowing under the strain.
"When this happens farmers can get livestock out before the roof collapses."
He advised farmers to take extreme care when attempting to clear snow from building roofs.
"Working on farm roofs is dangerous at the best of times but in deep snow the risks are even greater. Advice on dealing with snow on roofs, burst pipes and other winter hazards is on our webs site: nfumutual.co.uk.
Elsewhere, temperatures as low as -17c in Wales and snowfall across most of the UK has led to an influx of hundreds of claims for road accidents, burst pipes and uncollected milk from farms.
NFU Mutual has issued advice to help country people cope with the worst that winter weather can throw at them.
Homes
Country properties tend to be particularly vulnerable to frost damage because their isolated locations leave them exposed to the full force of the elements, and unlike urban properties, they rarely have other buildings around them to provide a degree of protection from the worst of the winter weather.
Last winter's hard frosts revealed that the trend for extra roof insulation can inadvertently increase the risk of burst pipes. This is because when pipes are sited above the insulation they become exposed to cold and are prone to freezing. To protect against this risk it's vital to install extra insulation around pipes and tanks.
Protecting homes
If you install extra insulation in your loft then make sure you also lag your pipes
Pipe lagging should be at least 5 cm diameter - thicker if your loft is well insulated
Do not insulate underneath your tank - warm air from the room below will keep the tank heated
Make sure gutters are clear of leaves and other debris.
Check that tiles and slates are secure on the roof.
Use binoculars to check that chimneys and flashing are in good repair and could withstand a severe storm.
Ensure chimneys are swept regularly and that wood burning stoves function properly, especially in thatched properties.
If you are going away from your home, make sure someone can check the property regularly in case of burst pipes
Winter driving
Leave at least twice as much space as normal between you and the vehicle in front
Don't make harsh or sharp movements, when you brake and accelerate do it slowly and smoothly
Drive slowly in as high a gear as possible
When ascending a slippery or snowy hill, approach it from a good distance at a steady speed in second or even third gear. Keep it ticking over while continuing as consistently as possible
If you feel your vehicle starting to skid, take your feet off the pedals. Braking will cause the wheels to lock leaving you unable to steer while accelerating could see you shooting off in a random direction if the tyres suddenly grip. Turn gently into the skid and let the car come slowly to a halt
Keep a torch, blanket, a bottle of water and a chocolate bar or two in the car
Make sure your mobile ‘phone is fully charged, and tune into the radio to keep up to date about road conditions
Finally, make sure that you have informed your insurer of any major changes to your property and possessions. If you have extended your property, make sure buildings insurance has been updated to reflect the change. It's just as important to make sure that your contents insurance is sufficient to cover all your possessions.
If your home contents are insured with NFU Mutual, you shouldn't need to worry about the extra value of presents round the tree in the run up to Christmas - the company automatically increases cover over the festive period.
"This year's early cold snap appears to have taken some people by surprise, so we are urging people who haven't taken steps to prepare for snow and ice to do so now to reduce the risk of an accident or the misery a burst pipe in the home can cause," said John Kenny, NFU Mutual Chief Claims Manager.
For more information on winter safety, visit nfumutual.co.uk.