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

Storm damage could cost €50m to €100m

Aviva is providing tips for customers on www.aviva.ie

 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.