In the aftermath of Storm Ciarán, some people across Belgium may discover that their property has been damaged by the heavy gusts of wind. Find out what necessary steps to take in case of storm damage below.
On Thursday, fire brigades across the country received calls for assistance as Storm Ciarán hit Belgium with winds reaching up to 110 km/h. In most cases, these calls were related to trees falling over, objects being blown into gardens and houses, or tiles being torn off roofs.
For help in non-life-threatening situations, people who have been affected by the storm are advised to call the number 1722, which was activated on Wednesday, as is always the case during severe weather. As cases are dealt with on the basis of how urgent the incident is, it may take a while for the emergency services to reach you. In life-threatening situations, however, 112 should be dialled immediately.
What is considered storm damage?
Anyone who has damage caused by stormy weather should report it to their insurer as soon as possible to settle a claim. But firstly, it is important to ensure the damage was caused by what is officially considered a storm.
The law states that a storm signifies a wind force of 100 km/h. However, some insurers define storms as having a wind force of 80km/h. It is therefore important to first be aware of what type of coverage an insurer offers.
In most cases, storm damage to a home (e.g. damage to roof tiles or solar panels) is always covered by fire insurance. Fire insurance is not compulsory in Belgium, but most people take it out anyway.
The damage caused by a storm in Beauraing (Namur province) in June 2021. Credit: Belga / Anthony Dehez
It should cover damage even when caused by a fallen tree that belongs to the property next door, for instance. The civil liability aspect of the insurance also intervenes if your own roof tile blew through a neighbour's window, for example. The insurance does not normally cover garden furniture, trampolines or swimming pools that are damaged due to storms.
Damage to cars is not covered by fire insurance, but by car insurance. However, damage caused by storms is not included in the standard BA insurance. There are special guarantees that can be bought in addition to protect against storm damage.
What happens next?
It is important to take plenty of clear photos of the damage for the report as this will help to settle the claim more efficiently. Any supporting documents and invoices for the damaged items will also help with the claim. In this report, customers must detail what caused the damage.
In the meantime, prevent further damage by taping off broken windows or calling the fire service to temporarily fix roofs, for example. Insurance providers will look into whether an effort was made to prevent further damage.
After the damage has been reported to the insurer, a file will be opened, and the size and urgency of the damage that needs to be repaired will be analysed.
If the damage is limited, the insurer will usually ask for these photos so that it can be estimated exactly how much damage there is. The insurance broker will then also advise on a possible solution.
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If the storm has caused heavy damage and there is an urgent need for a solution, the insurer will send someone out to temporarily fix the damage caused. In these cases, the insurance broker or an expert will also come to measure the damage themselves.
Based on the specifications (including estimated costs) of the company that will carry out the repair, the insurance office can estimate the cost of the damage, which can be discussed before an agreement is reached. Usually, the customer will then receive part of the compensation within a month, but during busy periods, this can be delayed.
The duration of the repair depends on the availability of the requested professionals, especially as some insurance offices choose their own contractors to carry out the repair work.
If the damage cannot be recovered from an insurance company, it is possible to obtain compensation from the Disaster Fund. However, this is only possible if the storm is officially recognised as a disaster, such as with the deadly floods in 2021.
