The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has reassured homeowners and businesses that their insurers will be ready to help and support their clients, ahead of Storm Darragh.
Storm Darragh, which is the fourth named storm of the season following Bert and Connall in November, is set to track over Ireland on Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning and then move to the UK on Saturday afternoon, according to news reports.
The storm is expected to bring strong and gusty winds, which are expected to intensify Friday night. A yellow wind warning has already been issued for Ireland, with orange wind warnings issued for areas most affected by intense winds, the reports said.
“Hot off the heels of Storms Bert and Connall, many homes and businesses across the country will be braced for Storm Darragh,” said Louise Clark, policy adviser at the ABI.
In preparation for the storm, the ABI advised insurance clients to have the contact details of their insurers handy, along with other emergency contact numbers. If their homes suffer any damage, the first thing clients should do is contact their insurers – as they will advise if damaged items or properties are repairable.
For any emergency repairs, the client should inform the insurer and keep any receipts to attach when they file a claim.
In some policies, if the home is uninhabitable while repairs are being carried out, the insurer may arrange and pay for temporary accommodation in line with the client’s policy.
Commercial policies and business interruption policies may also be covered depending on the client’s policy, according to the ABI.
The ABI, which represents the collective interests of the UK’s insurance industry, also advised people to keep informed about weather warnings and follow the advice of the Met Office and other concerned agencies.
“We’d like to reassure people that insurers expect bad weather to strike at any time and are geared up to deal with events like this as quickly as possible,” Clark said. “So if you suffer damage to your property or vehicle, contact your insurer as soon as you can for help and advice.”
