Tips on how to take care of your property in advance, how to monitor and properly document damages if circumstances turn unfavorable, are shared by Dalia Kazlauskė, head of the property damage group at the insurance company “If” Lithuania.
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Storm damage is still increasing
Although a powerful storm hit the Baltic countries last weekend, it is still early to talk about the final scale of the damage it caused – the number of reports about experienced damages is still changing. This is because after such events, people first undertake necessary tasks to reduce losses: covering damaged roofs, removing valuable items from flooded premises, and reporting the incident after some time.
As we notice when communicating with clients, the most damage from the storm was caused to residents of Latvia and Lithuania, somewhat less to those in Estonia. Uprooted trees and broken branches damaged house roofs, facades, terraces, fences, outbuildings, and cars. Water that entered the premises damaged walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, and household appliances.
How to properly take care of your home
Indeed, although storm damage to real estate is significant, not everyone takes care of their property protection in advance. As shown by data from a Baltic countries residents’ opinion survey conducted earlier this year, only one-fifth of residents in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia took measures in the past year to protect their homes from risks caused by storms or floods. In Lithuania, this share is 24%, in Latvia – 19%, and in Estonia – 16 percent.
Nevertheless, both the recent storm and experience from recent years confirm the importance of prevention. We see that strong wind and heavy rain can cause damage to both new and old properties. However, the extent of damage largely depends on the technical condition of the building and its surrounding environment.
People often focus on the home and what happens inside it. However, it is also important to take care of the exterior – for example, the condition of the roof, waterproofing of the basement or other lower rooms, and rainwater drainage. Moreover, once receiving warnings about an approaching storm, it is important to secure or temporarily move yard items indoors that could be blown away by strong wind. Such preparation can even help completely avoid damage and unplanned repair work.
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The effects of heavy rain may not appear immediately
If circumstances turn unfavorable, when documenting damage to the home, it is important to know that some water damage after heavy rains may not become apparent immediately. Therefore, residents are advised to monitor affected areas for some time and document observed changes. This way, when assessing damage, it can be determined whether later appearing defects are related to the specific storm’s effects.
If water entered living spaces, it is recommended to photograph damaged areas and property before starting cleanup work. If safe, items can be moved, accumulated water removed, and damaged parts of the building temporarily protected from rain to stop further damage. However, if water reached electrical installations or devices, repairs should not be attempted independently until it is confirmed safe to do so.
The initial damage report can be supplemented
After stronger storms, insurance companies usually receive most reports within the first days. Damage can be reported immediately – it is not necessary to wait until all storm damage can be assessed. Later, upon noticing more defects, the initial information can be supplemented, and the final payout will be recalculated considering the updated circumstances.
When registering an incident, it is always recommended to briefly describe its circumstances. If possible, photos or videos showing the damage should be attached.
