It makes sense for all homeowners to be aware of the risks that severe weather and flooding cause, to know what to do if a flood occurs and how to limit the damage to your property. It also helps to know that, although at Direct Line we can’t control the weather, we can ensure that we’ve protected your home against as much of the damage a flood can cause as possible.

This article will help you deal with severe weather conditions and to limit damage caused to your home by flooding. It also explains how Direct Line Home Insurance will help you in the event of a flood claim.

Be prepared

Floods are impossible to prevent, but if your home is at risk from flooding, you can do a lot to help limit their impact by taking a few simple actions.

Find out whether your home is in a flood risk area

The Environment Agency and its Scottish Equivalent, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, are responsible for operating a flood warning service in areas at risk from flooding from rivers and seas. During periods of heavy prolonged rain, listen to local radio or television for flood warnings or call the Environment Agency’s Floodline on 0845 988 1188. 

Keep important documents safe

Get into the habit of keeping copies of important documents, such as your insurance policies, bank details and a list of useful contact numbers – e.g. the local council, police, your insurer and emergency services – stored in a dry, accessible place, ideally upstairs.

Make a flood emergency kit

Things worth including are copies of key personal documents, a torch and portable radio with spare batteries, warm, protective clothing, blankets, rubber boots and gloves, cleaning equipment, disinfectant and detergent, heavy duty refuse bags, a first aid kit and, if appropriate, supplies of essential medication. Keep a stock of food, can opener and a fresh water supply handy.

If the weather gets bad

• Agree in advance where members of your family and pets could go and how to stay in touch in case your property has to be evacuated. Consider moving your car to higher ground.
• Prepare a few sandbags or use plywood to block doorways and air-bricks to help prevent water getting inside. In an emergency make sandbags using old pillowcases or plastic carrier bags filled with sand or earth.
• Reduce the potential for damage by raising or moving as much furniture, electrical equipment and valuables (including photographs and sentimental items) as you can to higher areas of your home.
• Empty cupboards and other items of furniture that can’t be moved and carry the contents upstairs.
• If there’s time, roll up carpets and rugs and put them in a safe place. Take down curtains or lift them over rods to keep them above floodwater.

Steps to help reduce the risk

Adopting a regular, general maintenance programme makes a great deal of sense. Not only can it help to reduce the risk of storm damage but it will also help keep your home in good condition.

Gutters

Clean out gutters at least once a year to prevent rainwater overflowing and getting into plasterwork and decorations.

Tanks and pipes

Make sure tanks and pipes are lagged and check that loft pipes are under loft insulation so the heat from below will stop them freezing.

Taps

Mend dripping taps and check pipes for leaks. Before winter sets in, turn off water to outside taps to prevent them freezing.

Roof and chimneys

Check for any damage caused to chimneys, roof tiles, gates or fences and carry out repairs as soon as possible to reduce the risk of further damage occurring during a storm.

Trees

Remove loose or overhanging tree branches to prevent damage in a storm.

Should disaster strike

Some of the things you can do include:

• Get in touch with Direct Line as soon as possible. We’ll usually pay for all emergency repairs that need to be carried out to stop the damage getting worse – you just need to notify us. We can also help with getting your property dried out.
• Take photographs of all parts of your home damaged as a result of storms or floods. It may help with the settlement of claims.
• Use a plastic sheet or tarpaulin to temporarily repair storm-damaged roofs.
• Where ceilings are bulging with water, pierce bulging plaster with a broom handle to let the water through and collect the water in buckets.
• Leave windows, doors and cupboard doors open to aid drying out.
• Dry out carpets and soft furnishings but don’t lift carpets unless absolutely necessary as they may shrink.
• If the power fails, keep freezer doors closed to slow down defrosting.

Don’t be tempted to:

• Throw everything out automatically as sometimes we need to see the extent of the damage to help us assess the claim. If necessary, move and store damaged items outside and, in really extreme cases, take photographs if possible before disposing of damaged items.
• Use your electricity or gas supplies until they’ve been checked out thoroughly by a qualified engineer. Your insurance policy covers the cost of having them tested and once they are working, the drying out process and other repair work can safely commence.
• Accept quotations from ‘cowboy’ tradesmen who often turn up at such times. Direct Line will be able to advise you on reputable firms who can undertake repairs and building work.
• Start re-decorating straight away – the expense and effort can easily go to waste. It can be several weeks – even several months in some cases – before the structure dries out adequately. Dehumidifiers will help to speed up the process and moisture meter readings will indicate when the plaster and woodwork are thoroughly dry.

When you need to claim

Your Direct Line Buildings and Contents policies protect your home against the effects of storms and floods. Your buildings policy covers damage to buildings, garages and sheds and your contents policy will protect the items within your home and garden (Damage to hedges, gates and fences is not covered).

What will happen when you register your claim?

When you call to register a claim, we’ll give you immediate advice on emergency repairs and let you know what action we’re going to take to progress your claim. We also provide you with a 24-hour emergency helpline so you can get in touch with qualified tradespeople whenever you need to.

Where large-scale events or damage are concerned, we will appoint a personal claims advisor or a loss-adjustor to manage the claim on your behalf, keep you informed of progress and offer you advice.

Alternative accommodation

If the damage is so extensive that you can’t stay in your home, we’ll arrange to put you and your family into temporary emergency accommodation while repairs are being carried out. All reasonable costs are covered by your home insurance policy and normally, payment for this will be made direct to relieve you of the financial burden.

Getting everything back to normal

Your policy covers the costs involved in restoring your home to its original state following a storm or flood – costs that normally run into thousands of pounds. Drying out the property, cleaning debris from the site, removing damaged floor coverings, dehumidifying and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the property are all covered by Direct Line. Your claims advisor or loss adjuster will arrange for builders to start work as soon as possible after the damage has occurred.

Contents cover

In the meantime, your claims advisor or loss adjuster will start to draw up an inventory of damaged contents and should be able to agree immediately any emergency payments to cover up any front costs you may have incurred. Do remember to hold on to receipts. Once the contents claim is agreed we can arrange to replace your damaged goods through our approved suppliers and we’ll have these delivered to your home, where possible, to save you any inconvenience.

As soon as your home is fully dry, a repair specification will be drawn up and with your agreement, repairs can then be processed.

Useful contacts

Direct Line Home Insurance
Claims hotline: 0845 246 8710

Environment Agency
Floodline: 0845 988 1188
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline

Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Floodline: 0845 988 1188
www.sepa.org.uk/flooding

Register your claim online

You can register claims online, as well as check the progress of a claim and make amendments to your policy.