Storm Claims: What You Need To Know

Directly after a storm

• Be careful around any affected areas - in flooded areas think currents, hidden debris, contamination, and live cables. If there has been physical or structural damage in the area, beware of fallen trees or loose tiles.
• Take plenty of pictures - Take photos in flooded areas of the water at its highest point (include the date on each wall too), or of any damaged buildings or stock before clean-up/temporary repairs begin.
• Keep damaged building materials - including stock, furnishings, etc. Make a list of everything that has been damaged in the storm. Move undamaged goods/stock away from damaged goods/stock to prevent contamination. 
• Approach buildings and outbuildings with caution - Structural damage may not be visible to the naked eye. Also check trees for any obvious damage and consult your local authority if assistance is needed. 
• Don’t attempt repairs whilst the storm is ongoing – If you’ve enlisted the help of professionals to do emergency repairs, request full itemised quotes or invoices. 
• Write down a description of the overall state of the property – and keep detailed notes of any actions you have taken. 
• Never use the gas or electrical supply in a flooded property – until a qualified person checks everything and tells you it’s safe. 
• If perishable stock is saturated – dispose of it quickly and in the appropriate manner after taking a record and photographing it.

Following a storm

• Make sure you only carry out emergency repairs (once it’s safe) and keep invoices for consideration. Take photos of the damage to support this and photos of the emergency repair.
• To help you get back to normal as quickly as possible, try to obtain two quotes from a local tradesperson to repair the damage. Please ask the tradesperson/company to provide a quotation on headed paper with a breakdown of costs the labour costs, materials, and cause of the damage.
• If the incident has left you unable to trade, ensure to let your staff and customers know in plenty of time and ensure to remain in communication until you’re back up and running.

Making a claim

Report the damage as soon as possible – If you haven’t already, please notify us or your insurer as soon as possible so we can start to process your claim and ensure a swift and fair outcome.

Gather your information – To get the ball rolling, ensure you have your policy details to hand, including your policy number. If the incident involved witnesses, collect statements and obtain any available CCTV footage to support the claim.

Document everything you can – Ensure to take lots of pictures of the damage. This will assist in identifying the extent of damage for an insurance claim down the line, as memories alone aren’t always reliable.

Keep receipts – Ensure to keep receipts for everything.

After an incident occurs, it’s a good idea to review your current risk assessments and health & safety procedures to help prevent a similar incident happening in the future. We know that making a claim can feel stressful and risk assessments may be the last thing on your mind right now, but when you’re ready please feel free to give the team a call to discuss our risk assessment offering. We’re here to help you better protect your business. Just get in touch.

About the author

Alison Wild BCom (Hons), FMAAT, MATT, Taxation Technician is a highly respected industry professional who has been working with and advising SMEs in areas including tax, pensions, insurance and marketing for over 25 years. She is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) and also has over 20 years' experience as a residential landlord.

Consistent with our policy when giving comments and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.