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How to protect yourself: 8 steps against storm damage!
Learn how to best report and manage storm damage. Important tips and steps for insured persons in an emergency.
How to protect yourself: 8 steps against storm damage!
Weather extremes are increasing and presenting many homeowners with major challenges. Storms with storms, rain and snow are increasingly causing significant damage. According to reports from the South German newspaper Regulated insurers will suffer storm damage of around 5.5 billion euros in 2024. This highlights the need to prepare for such events in good time and to know which insurance companies will step in in the event of an emergency.
An important aspect is that damage caused by floods and floods is often only covered if an additional element for natural damage has been taken out in the residential building and contents insurance. In order to be optimally prepared for the various situations in the event of storm damage, experts have developed an eight-point roadmap for insured people.
The eight-point roadmap
The following steps should be followed in an emergency:
- Sicherheit: Bei starken Gebäudeschäden sollte das Gebäude verlassen und in Sicherheit gewartet werden, um Stromschlaggefahr in nassen Räumen zu vermeiden.
- Versicherer informieren: Um Ärger und mögliche Leistungskürzungen zu vermeiden, ist es wichtig, die Wohngebäude- und Hausratversicherung schnellstmöglich zu informieren.
- Folgeschäden vermeiden: Um weitere Schäden zu minimieren, sollten Fenster und Türen abgedichtet und Möbel aus Wasser entfernt werden. Dies ist gesetzlich vorgeschrieben.
- Beweisaufnahmen: Dokumentieren Sie Schäden durch Fotos und Videos und bewahren Sie beschädigte Gegenstände auf.
- Aufräumen mit Erlaubnis: Aufräumarbeiten sollten nur mit Zustimmung der Versicherung durchgeführt werden, um das Schadenbild nicht zu verändern.
- Reparaturen vermeiden: Beauftragen Sie Handwerker erst nach Rücksprache mit der Versicherung, um Leistungen nicht zu gefährden.
- Liste beschädigter Gegenstände: Erstellen Sie eine Liste aller beschädigten Gegenstände, inklusive Kaufdatum und Preis. Diese sollte binnen zwei Wochen beim Versicherer eingereicht werden.
- Geld zurückholen: Nach einem Monat steht Ihnen eine Abschlagszahlung zu, sofern alle Pflichten erfüllt sind. Eigenleistungen können eventuell vergütet werden.
Insurance coverage in detail
Storms can cause various damage to roofs, basements and vehicles. Damage to real estate, such as the roof or windows, is covered by homeowners insurance, while damage to household contents is covered by home contents insurance. Storm damage is liable for wind force 8 (62 km/h) and can also be recognized if the wind force cannot be determined if corresponding damage is documented in the area. According to the Consumer advice center Partial comprehensive insurance applies in the event of damage caused by roof tiles on parked cars, whereby a deductible can be deducted from the compensation amount.
Another important point is the damage caused by fallen trees. Here, partial comprehensive insurance covers damage if a tree falls on a vehicle. Healthy trees are considered “force majeure” and their owners are not liable, while in the case of rotten trees, the tree owner or their liability insurance can be held responsible. In addition, damage caused by snow is only covered with additional insurance against natural hazards. Flooding caused by continuous rain is only covered with an appropriate policy.
In summary, it is essential that homeowners and tenants find out about their insurance and take out any necessary additional modules. Above all, raising awareness of the risks that can arise from extreme weather conditions is of central importance.