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WeatherSense - Tips for protecting you, your family and your home
What precautions should I take if a storm is forecast?
- Ensure that your property is well maintained and that fixtures, fittings, pipes, drains, lead valleys and
structures exposed to wear and tear are repaired and renewed.
- Clear drains regularly, particularly in anticipation for stormy weather.
- Roofs should be inspected regularly for loose slates/tiles and poor guttering.
- Trees should be maintained and dead wood or vulnerable branches should be removed.
- Outdoor items such as patio heaters, furniture, barbeques, bins and animal feeders should be secured or
stored.
- Gates, doors, sheds and fences should all be closed and locked.
- Leave electric gates open in case of power cuts.
- Prepare for a loss of power. Keep the following to hand: torch, batteries, fuel, food etc.
- Visit your neighbours to see if you can help them.
What should I do after a storm?
- Retain all damaged material as it may be crucial to establishing the cause of the fire, assessing damage and validating your claim.
- Contact FBD’s helpline to register any claim for damage and discuss repair work required.
- Do not re-enter structurally damaged buildings until advised that it safe to do so.
How might flooding affect my home?
- Rising flood water poses a threat to any property irrespective of how well constructed or defended it is.
- Methods of long term flood protection include:
- use of water resistant construction materials
- non return valves on sewers
- sealing of cable/service ducting
- construction of barriers and diversions.
- If prone to flooding you should ensure you have access to sandbags and pumping facilities.
I’ve been flooded – what should I do?
Focus on the safety of you and your family:
- Put people before property.
- Cooperate with the emergency services if they tell you to evacuate during flooding.
- Be prepared to act quickly to get yourself to safety.
If you are leaving your property:
- Consider your needs while out of the property and plan for this.
- Ensure you consider essentials such as medication and clothing. Also think about important personal
items such as phones, wallets, handbags and items you will need day to day.
- If safe to do so, turn off gas, electricity and water supplies before flood water enters your home.
- Ensure your property and outbuildings are securely locked before you leave.
- Do not return if unsafe to do so. Listen to advice on returning to your property.
What to do if you have time:
- If feasible, gather essential items and valuables together either upstairs or in a high place.
- Move vehicles to a higher ground.
- If you own farm animals and can move them to high ground safely, do so.
- Place sandbags and floodboards at any point where water might gain access (e.g. doors, low windows
and low vents). Remember to remove all covering on vents once the risk of flooding has passed.
- Plug sinks, baths and shower trays and place a sandbag in toilet bowls to prevent back flow.
- Ensure that all storm drains are clear.
- If you have oil fired heating, turn off oil supply at your tank.
- Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies before flood water enters your home if safe to do so.
- Charge your mobile phone now and check its charge regularly.
- If remaining in the property fill containers with clean water.
- Check your torches etc for batteries.
- DO NOT touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water.
- Keep listening to local radio for updates.
- Flood water can rise quickly. Stay calm and reassure those around you. Call 999 if you are in danger.
Important: flood water is dangerous. It may contain sewage:
- Keep children and vulnerable people away from it. Avoid walking or driving through it.
- Wash your hands thoroughly if you touch it.
What should I do after the flood?
- Retain all damaged material as it may be crucial to establishing the nature of loss, assessing damage
and validating your claim.
- Contact FBD’s helpline to register any claim for damage and to discuss repair work required.
- Ventilate, gently heat and dehumidify the property.
- Do not re-enter structurally damaged buildings until advised that it safe to do so.
- Do not re-engage utilities until they have been checked by a competent and qualified professional.
What should I expect in severe frost and freezing temperatures?
A burst pipe in your attic, if unaddressed, can be as devastating as a flood through the front door. It probably
represents the greatest risk posed to your home by freezing conditions.
Freeze thaw action can cause structural damage but this is more gradually operating.
How to prepare for the freeze:
- Lag/insulate outdoor pipes, attic tanks and supply pipes.
- If a property is unoccupied, the water should be shut. Run the hot taps to drain the attic tank.
- If your home is unoccupied for any period during cold weather, leave the heating on to protect from
freezing and bursting pipes - In the absence of central heating, use thermostatically controlled portable heating to maintain
temperatures without unnecessary energy waste. - Open the attic door to allow heat into your attic. This helps to prevent the pipework and tanks in your
attic from freezing over. - Leave the underside of the attic tank un-insulated to allow warm air to reach the tank.
- Ensure boilers are serviced annually by a qualified professional.
My water pipe is burst. What should I do?
- Turn off the water supply immediately.
- Turn off water dependant appliances including your boiler.
- If the water leak is from the attic/above ceiling level, turn off the water supply and turn on all hot taps to
drain remaining water out of attic tanks as quickly as possible.
- Engage a professional immediately to stem any flow and make repairs to prevent further damage.
- Report the incident to FBD immediately and do not effect any permanent repairs until all damage has
been assessed and repairs are agreed with FBD.
- If appliances are affected, turn off the power at the mains board if safe to do so.
- Release water trapped in or above walls/ceiling by piercing the wallboard. Catch as much water as you
can in any vessel available.
What should I do after the leak?
- Retain all damaged material as it may be crucial to establishing the nature of loss, assessing damage
and validating your claim.
- Contact FBD’s helpline to register any claim for damage and to discuss repair work required.
- Ventilate, gently heat and dehumidify the property.
- Do not re-enter structurally damaged buildings until advised that it safe to do so.
- Do not re-engage utilities until they have been checked by a competent and qualified professional.
I’ve seen snow forecast. What precautions should I take?
- As with freezing temperatures you will need to insulate and protect your property from subzero
temperatures.
- If applicable, purchase ample solid fuel and check your oil tank.
- Flat roofs are particularly susceptible to snow gathering. If snow fall is excessive consider brushing
snow off such roofs. Please only do so if you have appropriate access and equipment and can do so
safely.
- If roofs are subject to excessive weight, the joists can give way. In very heavy snow storms accompanied
by acute snow accumulation of roofs, it is advisable to monitor the roofs and observe the integrity of the
joists and the roofing material.
- Some modern houses have horizontal boiler outlets, often at low level. Ensure these are not blocked or
obscured.
- Frequently clear your path to maintain access to the public road. You may wish to salt or grit the cleared
surface, but do not use water - it will freeze and create an ice rink.
- Visit your neighbours to see if you can help them.
What numbers can I use in case of an emergency?
FBD Insurance plc Customer Service
LoCall: 1890 617 617
Email: info@fbd.ie
Claims
LoCall: 1890 953 953
Report any break-in or other losses due to malicious or illegal acts to Gardaí first.
"Find a Tradesperson" Helpline 24 Hours/365 days a year service
LoCall: 1890 478 478
Telephone this number for approved network of tradespeople, e.g. plumbers, electricians, glaziers, locksmiths, roofers etc.
Home Emergency Assistance 24 Hours/365 days a year service (please check you have this cover on your policy)
LoCall: 1890 583 583
Use this number for help in a household emergency, eg. if immediate action is needed to make your home safe and/or to secure
the building.
All suggestions contained herein are made in good faith and should be acted upon only if appropriate to
each individual circumstance. In all instances reasonable care should be taken and professional assistance
is the best way to deal with any extreme weather incident or accident.
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