Ireland: Aviva warns on storm protection amid fears of coastal wash-out

• Storm damage could cost €50 million to €100 million.

Aviva, the country’s leading insurer, has today urged coastal home and business owners to take action to protect their property from this weekend’s storm onslaught. Consumers are also being urged to avoid unnecessary travel, and to stay indoors during stormy weather. If travel is essential, Aviva is advising road users to take extra caution, slow down and be mindful of debris.  

To help consumers Aviva has activated its Aviva Weather Watch Strategy. This includes putting the Aviva Roadside Rescue teams on high alert – particularly on Sunday, and activating a team of specialist storm claim handlers to help any consumers whose property is impacted. Aviva has also prepared its teams to implement the company’s unique Advance Payment Option which was first launched during last years traumatic floods. 

While it is difficult to estimate the damage that could result from the storm, Aviva believes it has the potential to be a large "loss event". If the impact is as large as last year’s flood/freeze, the cost could reach in excess of €100 million for the industry.

Commenting on the expected impact, Paul Gurhy of Aviva’s General Insurance business said: “Weather events like major storms are becoming a recurrent feature of Ireland’s climate. Having helped over 4,500 customers during one week in last year’s flood event, Aviva is putting in place its Weather Watch Strategy to look out for its customers. This includes website advice on how to prepare for flood and storm events, national information campaign and putting our customer service teams in Galway on alert in case of large-scale claims over the weekend.”

Among the tips Aviva is providing for customers on www.aviva.ie are:

• Preparing in case of a flood & storm events
  • Make sure you know how and where to turn off your gas, water and electricity supplies - even if it’s dark.
  • Keep a list of useful numbers handy (including your GP, local authority and us, your insurer).
  • Make a list of the vital items you will need if you have to leave your home in an emergency.
  • Make sure the whole family know what to do if there is a flood. 
     
• What to do when a flood/storm event actually happens
  • Turn off your gas, water and electricity supplies.
  • Disconnect your cooker, washing machine and dishwasher if they are connected by rigid pipes. This will prevent damage if they float or move about during a flood.
  • Close the valves on oil or gas tanks outside your home.
  • Protect doors, low windows and air vents by fitting flood barriers to prevent floodwater entering your home. Approved and tested products are preferable, but sandbags, timber or metal sheeting placed outside openings will create a seal and reduce the volume of water entering your home.
    
    Remember to remove all covering on air vents once the floodwater has receded, as ventilation is needed to dry out wall cavities. You can also create temporary seals using silicone sealant. Simply open doors and windows, spread the sealant around the frame and close and lock the door or window.
  • To prevent a backflow of water through toilets, drains or waste pipes, simply plug sinks and baths and weigh the plug down with a sandbag or something heavy. You can plug outlets without fitted plugs, (for example, washing machine waste pipes), with a cloth. You should also place a sandbag in the toilet bowl. Outside your home, you should weigh down manhole covers with sandbags or concrete blocks.
  • Move as many items as possible upstairs – for example, furniture, rugs, floor-length drapes, electrical appliances, and so on. If you don’t have time to remove curtains, simply drape them over the curtain rail to make sure that they are above the floodwater.
  • If it’s not possible to move heavy furnishings, raise them up on blocks or weigh them down or tie them together to make sure that they don’t float and get damaged by hitting other objects.
  • Empty heavy cabinets of their contents and move vulnerable and particularly sentimental items upstairs. Remember that items like photographs or family videos may have little financial value but they are irreplaceable to you. This also applies to personal documents and address and phone books. Sealing these in waterproof plastic bags is a simple and practical measure.
  • Unplug all electrical items and move any items you can upstairs.
  • If you have to leave your home, pack a selection of warm, dry clothes and essential toiletries and medicines. Fill a flask with a hot drink and keep a torch and battery operated radio (tuned to the local station for updates) and fully charged mobile phone (if you have one) to hand. 
    
• What to do after a flood / event
  • Once the water level has dropped and your home is given the all clear, you should take the following action.
  • Get advice from Aviva's Accident Line on 1850 666 888 - have your policy number to hand and other key information that will help smooth the claims notification process includes date of event, loss type, incident details, contact details, policy cover.
  • Do not reconnect your services until an accredited engineer has checked them.
  • Dry out appliances affected by floodwater and get a qualified electrician, gas engineer or plumber to inspect them before you use them.
  • Lift flood-damaged carpets to allow the floor to dry out but don’t throw them out.
  • Use a low heat to gently dry things out – using too much heat too quickly can cause further damage.
  • Take care not to use electrical sources of heat near flood water.
  • Do not throw anything out. Your claims adviser will need to assess damage to your belongings for valuation purposes and to see if it’s possible to repair them.

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