The current year 2024 promises to break storm damage records – it is already 43% higher than last year. According to the latest Seesam report, the storms of June and early August contributed greatly to this. /nginx/o/2024/08/18/16297673t1h4f8a.jpg)
Thunderstorm. Illustrative photo. Photo: Pixabay
The current year 2024 promises to break storm damage records – it is already 43% higher than last year. According to the latest Seesam report, the storms of June and early August contributed greatly to this.
"Year after year, storms are causing more and more damage in Estonia, and the reality is that each new year breaks records for damage caused by them. Although compensation for damage from the recent storm and heavy rainfall has not yet been completed, the amount of compensation paid is already a third higher than a year ago. The largest damage so far has reached 6,000 euros, and the average amount of damage from a storm over the past year has been 1,405 euros," said Dagmar Gilden, Seesam's product manager for home insurance.
Harju County suffers the most
According to the insurer, the list of items damaged is roughly the same every year, despite the fact that information and warnings about storms are distributed by both the Rescue Board and insurance companies. Fences are the most damaged, especially those that were in poor condition before the storm. Also damaged are sheds, roofs and yard property such as trampolines, garden furniture and robotic lawn mowers.
Unfortunately, the main culprits of damage are usually broken trees. This year, a fallen tree damaged the roof and terrace of a residential building, and in the second case, the fence, and the damage amounted to 5,100 euros and 4,800 euros, respectively. At the same time, a broken birch tree top is also known to have damaged a trampoline, causing damage amounting to 310 euros.
"There are also frequent cases when the wind throws things in the yard through the window, such as unsecured trampolines and garden furniture, or hanging chairs on chains on the balconies of apartment buildings. The damage is not always great, but it is inconvenient, and such cases are quite easy to prevent. We recently had one case when garden furniture was not secured, as a result of which it rose into the air during a storm, flew across the garden and was damaged. The amount of damage was 1,405 euros," Gilden gave examples of damage from storms.
The main risk areas, according to the insurer, are Tallinn and its environs, where the storms this year have affected the most households.
In quantitative terms, storm damage accounts for about 5 percent of all damage cases, and loss adjusters deal with it every day because damaging gusts of wind occur even when there are no storm warnings issued by the media, Gilden said.
Thunderstorms are merciless
Often, thunderstorms occur during storms, and in their case, we can talk about two major types of damage: fires and damage to devices from overvoltage.
"Thunderstorms cause significant material damage to people every year, even without setting buildings on fire. For example, one of our clients recently had various household appliances damaged, and the damage exceeded 5,000 euros. The damage caused to solar panels and their components has reached 10,000 euros in several cases. The control electronics of household equipment such as heat pumps, security systems, solar panels and their components often break down," Gilden said about the damage from thunderstorms.
As the natural pattern of the seasons has changed and heat waves, dry periods and extreme storms are becoming more common in Estonia, Gilden also recommends reviewing the insurance contract in this regard.
"Homeowners should check whether insurance will cover damage to a device left plugged in during a storm, and under what conditions, and whether the coverage is different for equipment that services the building," Gilden advised.
Regardless of whether your home is insured, it is worth taking precautions during a thunderstorm to ensure that your home and the things in it remain in good condition and that no additional threat arises, such as a fire.
"Storm clouds often come without warning, so when you're leaving home for the day or the weekend, it's a good idea to unplug any electronics that don't need electricity all the time and can be unplugged. It's also a good idea not to charge devices like phones, computers, bicycle batteries, etc. during a thunderstorm. Another way to minimize the risk is to turn off your circuit breakers or main fuse, which is what the U.S. Department of Home Rescue recommends," Gilden said, listing steps to help keep your home safe from thunderstorms.
