Protecting Your Home and Business from Storms and Flooding

In recent years, the UK has seen a rise in severe weather events. Just last month (February 2025), the Met Office (Met Office, via The Scottish Sun) issued nearly 100 flood alerts and warnings due to a month’s worth of rain falling in just a few hours.

The growing frequency of storms, like Darragh and Eowyn, shows the importance of understanding the risks that storms and floods place on your home and business.

Support from Prosura

At Prosura, we’re focused on providing you with the right knowledge and coverage you need to stay safe and secure. While insurance is a vital safety net, there’s also a lot you can do to protect your property and business before disaster strikes.

Here, we look at how you can understand your risks, what to watch out for and the practical steps you can take to stay one step ahead of storm and flood damage.

Understanding Storm & Flood Risks

According to GOV.UK, climate change is not just impacting on the frequency of storms and floods but the severity of them too, which is increasing risks too.

Extreme weather patterns are causing heavier rainfall, stronger winds and even rising sea levels, all of which contribute to greater storms and flood damage. For example, in 2024, UK insurers paid out a record £585 million for weather-related damages to homes and possessions, passing the previous record by £77 million (ABI, via The Guardian).

Common Causes of Storm & Flood Damage

Based on this data alone, it is easy to see that storms and floods are growing, but how can we decrease the risks?

Kaye Newton, Senior Commercial Account Executive at Prosura, comments:

“Being informed is the first step to taking positive action and reducing the negative impacts that storm and flood damage can have on your home and business.”

According to the Local Government Association, there are several common causes of storm and flood damage, these include:

  1. Heavy rainfall – persistent downpours can lead to surface water flooding, particularly in urban areas with limited drainage.
  2. River and lake flooding – water levels can rise quickly, overflowing into residential and commercial properties.
  3. Coastal surges – storms can push seawater inland, causing extensive damage to coastal communities.
  4. Storm damage – high winds can rip off roofs, uproot trees and damage infrastructures, making properties vulnerable to further destruction.

High-Risk Areas

Kaye adds:

“We would always suggest assessing your surroundings and becoming familiar with the causes of floods, so you can better understand your risks.

“As an example, do you live near a river, lake or the coast? If so, your property could be at higher risk of flooding, especially during heavy rain or storms.

“You should also consider how old your home or building is as older properties may not be as strong and could be damaged more easily. It’s also worth checking for any weak spots before bad weather hits.”

Staying Informed

Staying informed is crucial. Checking flood maps and weather updates from sources like Met Office and the Environment Agency, can help you to take action before it’s too late.

How to Protect Your Business or Property

The Association of British Insurers (ABI), provide guidelines on enhancing the resilience of your home and business against storms and flooding.

For homeowners:

Protecting your home and business from storm damage involves taking preventative steps, including:

  • Ensuring all doors and windows are properly closed and fastened to prevent wind and water from entering your home.
  • Regularly checking your roof for loose or damaged tiles and repairing them when needed to reduce risk of leaks.
  • Clearing debris from gutters and drains to allow water to flow freely and prevent overflow.
  • Securing outdoor items stops them from becoming hazards in high winds.
  • Using flood barriers or sandbags if you live in a flood-prone area to keep water out.
  • Familiarising yourself with the locations of your gas, electricity and water shut-off points so you can disconnect them quickly if needed.

For business owners:

Storm and flood damage can lead to costly downtime and repairs, so consider these steps to reduce the risk:

  • Create a flood plan outlining procedures to protect your property, equipment and employees.
  • Move machinery and electrical installations above potential flood levels to prevent damage.
  • Regularly back up important documents and store them securely to prevent data loss.
  • Ensure all staff are aware of the flood plan and their roles in an emergency.
  • Review your insurance policy to confirm you have coverage for flood damage and business interruption.

What You Need to Do After a Storm

No matter what preventative measures are put in place, occasional damage caused by storms and floods is unavoidable. In these instances, it is important to understand how you can get your home and business back to normal as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Kaye further explains:

“When the worst happens there are several steps that claimants need to make to help mitigate damage and ensure that their claims process is triggered.”

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), you should:

  1. Contact your insurer as soon as possible – they can provide guidance and arrange repairs.
  2. Arrange temporary emergency repairs to prevent any further damage but always consult with your insurer first. Keep any receipts for reimbursement.
  3. TIP: Do not rush to dispose of damaged items unless they are a health risk. Your insurer may be able to repair or restore them.

Why Insurance Matters

Many property owners assume that their standard insurance policies cover all storm and flood-related damage, but this isn’t always the case.

At Prosura, we always ask clients to:

  • Review your policy regularly to understand what is included.
  • Check for exclusions that may leave you unprotected.
  • Ensure your cover is appropriate for any extra costs and losses.
  • Inform your insurer if your property is in a flood zone – this is vital in making sure you have the right level of protection.

A Helping Hand from Prosura

We are here to assist you, whether you are a Prosura client or not. If our experience and expertise can be of any help, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Our main priority is to support you during storms and extreme weather conditions.

Let’s Talk

Find out more about our extensive range of products here and speak to the team for support with all of your insurance needs, we protect your most valuable assets.

About Prosura

Prosura is a business and lifestyle insurance broker that simplifies the complexities of insurance.

Prosura is more than just an insurance broker. Firstly, it has an experienced team. Secondly, it combines the highest levels of customer service and advice with finding the right, cost effective policy. Ultimately, it provides cover to protect your most valuable assets.

Operating locally and throughout the UK, Prosura supports businesses of all sizes and sectors including manufacturing, distribution, property, and leisure and hospitality.

Most importantly Prosura tailors its offering to meet both business and personal needs. In addition, to provide further value for its customers, Prosura also includes its free ‘lawyer in a box’, a digital legal service for customers.

The Prosura team is based in Wakefield.

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