Homeowners have been urged to secure garden items and motorists are advised to park away from trees as the Met Eireann weather warnings begin to take effect.
Awful conditions including gusts of up to 110km/h and "overtopping waves" are expected to blast the country, which could result in repair bills for damage caused by toppled trees or runaway garden furniture.
The bills for damage caused by garden chairs, fallen tree branches and other outdoor items could run into the thousands - or even more, the home and life insurance provider, Peopl Insurance, has warned. Ahead of the stormy weather, the insurance adviser also issued some key advice for people.
“Garden tables and chairs, summer parasols and outdoor furniture can be particularly hazardous during a storm if they’re not secured properly,” said Paul Walsh, CEO of Peopl.ie.
“There have been cases of parasols being blown onto motorways and train tracks or into electricity poles during extreme storms. A rogue garden chair could cause damage to your property or car – or your neighbour’s.
“If you don’t have an indoor area to store away garden furniture, tying your outdoor furniture with sandbags is probably the easiest way to secure it during strong storms.”
Peopl urged home and car owners to check if they can rely on their home or car insurance to cover damage to cars or pieces of outdoor furniture – as not all insurers cover storm damage.
"While most car insurers cover damage caused by a storm or fallen trees, that cover may be restricted if you have garage to park your car in but, instead choose to park it under unstable trees with overhanging branches,” said Walsh.
"Watch out for fallen debris on the road or footpath as this could indicate that a tree or large branch has fallen or is about to fall."
Peopl Insurance also has the following advice to home and car owners ahead of Met Eireann’s weather warnings:
- Cut down - or top - large trees which are very close to your home or where you usually park your car. A fallen tree can cause huge damage to car or property
- If you have a known issue with your car such as an old or weakened battery, ensure to have it checked by a mechanic in advance of adverse weather as sudden temperature changes may leave it struggling to start. It may also be worth taking your car for a short drive if it has been lying idle for a long period of time to ensure the battery is working correctly
- Check all your gutters and drains are clean and clear of any leaves or other debris – as this could cause blockages and lead to flooding
- Secure children’s trampolines or summer parasols so they don’t blow away in a storm or dismantle and store them away until the bad weather passes. A rogue trampoline could damage your property – or even your neighbour’s
- Check your flat roof for any wear and tear or damage – and address any issues before bad weather hits. The repair bill for damage caused by a collapsed flat roof could run into tens of thousands of euro
- Make sure that your home insurer is aware that you have a flat roof – and after that, check the conditions in your home insurance policy around flat roofs. Your insurer could refuse to cover damage caused to or by a flat roof – particularly if your roof is over a certain size or age, or made of certain construction materials, and if you do not regularly maintain it
- Inspect your roof for loose tiles or damaged chimney pots, and get any problems repaired. Quite often those loose tiles can cause leaks and damage to your ceilings, in time
- Protect your home against floods if you’re in a flood-prone area. Damage limitation is key here because insurers usually will not cover homes that are in areas which have been flooded previously. So if you’re in a flood-prone area, invest in flood barriers and have some sand bags to hand
- Move valuables and other personal items to a safe area in your home – such as upstairs or high above ground level – if you’re expecting floods in your area. Ensure you know where water, gas and electricity mains are, should you need to turn them off or on at any stage
- Check your external walls and windows to ensure they are adequately water resistant. There are various different products, sealants, and varnishes available to waterproof any areas of concern
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