Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual urges people throughout England to make safety their top priority as the Met Office predicts hurricane-force winds on Friday.
Storm Eunice is set to hit the country from the earliest hours of Friday morning and continue into the night. It comes after Storm Dudley brought high-speed winds on Wednesday and into Thursday, causing significant damage.
Friday’s storm is expected to be even more damaging. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for most of the country, with high-speed winds expected to bring power lines down, cause significant damage to buildings, rip trees from the ground and cause coastal flooding. Flying debris will result in danger to life, and widespread travel disruption is also predicted as transport links are closed, roads and rail are blocked by debris and wind and rain make driving perilous.
NFU Mutual is warning people across the country not to underestimate the storm, and to protect themselves by carefully planning any journeys they need to take.
Matthew Griffin, NFU Mutual Agent at Sevenoaks, explains:
“Storm Eunice will impact every part of the country, causing a lot of damage and potentially endangering lives.
“At NFU Mutual, we have mobilised our network of hundreds of Agents in communities across England, as well as many others across the UK. They know their communities and are on standby to quickly progress repairs after the storms, including making emergency payments and settling simpler claims immediately, as well as advising customers who they know to be at risk from the storm.
“We are not underestimating the potentially devastating impact of Storm Eunice, and similarly urge people across the country not to be complacent and to make their own safety their priority.
“Only travel if it is necessary and safe to do so and plan your route carefully to avoid obstructions. If you do need to drive, remember that wind, rain and debris can make driving conditions perilous, so drive slowly and carefully.
“If it is possible to carry out simple preventative measures before the storm hits on Friday, such as removing or securing garden furniture or moving cars away from walls or trees, people should do so.
“But personal safety is the most important thing and should be everyone’s priority. I remind NFU Mutual customers that, should their property become damaged, we have them covered.”
Protecting your property and loved ones in a storm
Advice for everyone
The situation is fast-changing and so you should stay alert for Met Office weather warnings for your area.
Secure anything which can be safely secured before the storm, but only if it is safe to do so. NEVER attempt repairs or maintenance during a storm.
Secure garden furniture and clear out or put away items which cannot be secured.
For those in an area at risk of flood, move possessions to higher ground if possible.
Prepare for power cuts: Have torches and batteries to hand and make sure any generators are ready to use if required.
If you have one, park your car in the garage. If you do not have a garage, keep cars clear of walls, fences and trees as much as possible.
Do not leave the house or take car journeys unless absolutely necessary.
Plan any essential car journeys, checking tyres, engine oil, coolant and screenwasher, as well as lights and battery. Keep a torch, blanket, warm clothing, sensible footwear, a bottle of water and a chocolate bar or two in the car. If a car journey is absolutely necessary, drive slowly and carefully, staying aware of high winds on exposed roads and ice and water on the road.
Have your insurer’s emergency helpline available.
Check with neighbours to see if they need support.
Keep all doors and windows are closed.
After the storm document and take pictures of any damage, as this could help your insurance claim. Report any damage to NFU Mutual as soon as possible.
Do not enter any buildings which may be unsafe after a storm.
Advice for farmers:
Plan evacuation routes to get staff and livestock to safety in the case of extreme weather such as floods – identify safer ground that you can move livestock to in event of flooding or snow
Plan water and feed in advance and increase provisions for animals who may be unsafe to reach or become cut off during a storm.
Check fences are intact and secure them if possible before the storm
Be aware after a weather event, power cables or powerlines may have been brought down.
After the storm, check field boundaries, as trees can bring down fences and may result in animals straying.
Advice for other commercial businesses:
Make sure staff vehicles or company cars and vans are parked away from any trees and are in a safe area.
Maintain contact with customers and employees.
Move any stock which may be exposed to damage from the storm.
