Insurers are warning Storm Goretti-hit policyholders to document damage, keep receipts and avoid disposing of items before approval, while drivers are being reminded that cover is not automatically invalidated during weather warnings though claims may be harder to settle.
Tens of thousands of homes have been left without power following the storm’s arrival, with winds of up to 99mph. Travel disruption is expected in many areas, and weather warnings for ice, rain and snow are in place across large parts of the UK.
For storm-related damage, most home buildings, contents and commercial business policies provide cover. Insurers advise policyholders not to take any action that puts them or their household at risk, and to be especially careful around exposed electrical or telephone cables. Customers should only return to their home or business once it is safe.
Insurers also advise contacting providers as soon as possible, with many operating 24-hour emergency helplines to advise on next steps and arrange repairs. Where temporary emergency repairs are required to stop damage worsening, policyholders are advised to inform the insurer and keep receipts for claims. Unless damaged items are dangerous, customers are advised not to throw them away before discussing with insurers, in case repairs are possible. Drying out a property can take weeks or even months, meaning some homeowners may need to wait before redecorating.
Motorists are advised not to drive unless journeys are unavoidable, steering clear of flooded or exposed routes such as bridges or high open roads. Drivers who must travel are advised to carry warm clothing, food, drink, blankets and a torch, and keep a fully charged phone.
Guidance includes accelerating gently and driving slowly, being especially cautious around high-sided vehicles and when overtaking, and giving other vehicles extra room. If skidding begins, drivers are advised to stay calm, steer into the skid and avoid sudden movements like braking. Headlights should be turned on, or fog lights used if visibility is poor.
Driving during a weather warning, including red warnings, does not automatically invalidate car insurance, but it may make a claim more difficult. An insurer may attempt to prove negligence, such as driving on a road when advised not to, and refuse the claim.
Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical has urged customers to take steps to prevent burst pipes following Storm Goretti and subsequent yellow warnings from the MET Office for freezing weather.
In December 2022, during a prolonged frozen spell in the UK, Ecclesiastical’s claims teams received almost 300 claims for escape of water incidents, causing millions of pounds of damage.
Ecclesiastical advised keeping heating on when temperatures drop below zero, including leaving it on low such as 15°C, lagging pipes and cold-water tanks in vulnerable spaces, and turning water off at the stopcock in empty properties, running taps dry.
“We know that fuel costs are high, but we’d urge customers not to turn their heating off altogether during this colder weather as it can lead to much more expensive damages than an energy bill,” said Jeremy Trott, claims director at Ecclesiastical Insurance.
