Storms have the potential to cause serious damage to your home. As storms become more frequent across Ireland, it’s important to be prepared and take precautions to protect your home and valuables. Here we provide some useful advice on what to do before, during and after a storm.
Does my home insurance policy cover damage from a storm?
Yes, your AXA home insurance policy will cover damage to your home as a result of a storm. So you can have peace of mind that your home is protected. The details of this cover are outlined in your policy document here.
Protecting your home pre-storm
Here are some useful tips on how to prepare before a storm, to help limit the risk of damage to your home and valuables.
- Make sure you have a kit with essentials like a torch, batteries, candles, a portable charger for devices, first aid kit, water, non-perishable food and blankets, in case the electricity or heating goes out.
- Charge your devices in advance, and switch to low power mode in case the electricity goes out.
- Secure any loose items around your home, like fencing, gutters or roof tiles.
- Move garden furniture inside to a garage or shed, and secure trampolines and bins.
- Avoid unnecessary journeys, but if you must travel, take extra care.
Power outage? Here’s what you need to know
- If the power is out, remember to turn off any items which require electricity, such as TVs, ovens, irons, etc. Leave a light switched on so you know when power has been restored.
- Never approach fallen electricity lines on or near your property.
- If your power is out for longer than 4 hours, it’s recommended to discard any milk, meat, eggs, fish, or poultry in your fridge. The contents of your freezer will last up to 48 hours without power. If your food does spoil, AXA will cover your freezer contents up to a value of €750, depending on your insurance policy and the cause of the power cut.
After the storm:
- Please be careful and only leave your home once it’s safe to do so.
- Remember, there may be debris around your home like fallen roof tiles, branches or fallen trees.
- Avoid all unnecessary journeys, and if you must travel, watch out for obstacles like fallen power lines impacting your route.
- Take photographs of any damaged goods and keep a list of these items, as this will be helpful if you need to make a claim on your home insurance.
Ensure your home is fully protected by having AXA Home insurance. Get 15% off when you buy online
24/7 Emergency Home Assistance
Remember, an AXA home insurance policy comes with Home Emergency Assistance as standard. We have an approved network of builders to help with emergency repairs should you need it, and this service is available 24/7.
If you have been impacted by a storm and need to report a claim, please visit axa.ie/claims/ or call our claims team on 0818 7 365 24.
