What happens next?
There are two important areas you will need to take care of if your home is damaged by a storm.

Damage: check with your home insurance provider about what you need to do to make a claim. This may include photographing damage and keeping receipts for replacement items. More severe damage may need to be assessed by a loss adjuster before you get repairs done. Be safe and don't attempt to check structural damage yourself - your insurer will arrange for a professional to do it.

Accommodation: if your home has been badly damaged in a storm, you may need to find temporary accommodation. Many home insurance policies provide cover for alternative accommodation, the amount of cover will depend on why your home is uninhabitable. Damage to contents tends to be able to be repaired more quickly than structural damage to the building. As such more cover is often provided if damage to the buildings means you and your family need other accommodation.

Your insurer may cover the cost of alternative accommodation or rent for you, your family and even your pets if you can't remain at home due to damage to contents. It's important to check what they will provide in the event that your home can't be lived in due to damage to the building.

Putting things right
There are several things that'll need to be done to get your home back to normal after storm damage.

Structural damage assessment and repairs: the full extent of any structural damage will need to be assessed professionally.

Garden damage: high winds can cause trees and fences to become unstable, so check for any damage.

Cleaning: if your home has been flooded you'll need to clean away debris and silt.

Checking utilities: check that gas, water and electricity supplies are safe.

Decontaminating and drying out: any flooding will mean that your home will probably need professional decontaminating and drying out. This can take several months. Stripping out: any furniture and fixtures damaged by water will need to be stripped out and damaged plaster removed.

Preventative measures
Maintain your roof. Try to have the condition of your roof checked regularly, and arrange repairs as soon as possible. Cleaning out gutters and drains can help prevent damage from overflowing rainwater.

Preparation for flooding
If your area is prone to flooding and is likely to be hit by a storm, put sandbags outside external doors, and turn off the mains water. Move electrical equipment and furniture to a higher floor, if possible.

Secure or remove garden furniture and other free-standing equipment such as climbing frames and swings. Cut back any loose or low-hanging tree branches to help to keep wind damage to a minimum.

How your insurer can help
Your home insurance should offer:

> Cover for your home and the things in it
> Services designed to help you in a home emergency, such as a 24-hour helpline
> Cover for labour and parts
> Even cover for garden furniture and outdoor items.
> Obviously since all policies are different the levels of cover will differ from one insurer to the next, but it's important to know what you're covered with, should things go wrong.