Mitigating Storm Damage

• Guttering should be leaf and debris-free, particularly in the autumn and winter; in advance of a storm, and only if it is safe to do so check roof tiles and chimneys from ground level and look internally at the roof to make sure timber is rot and vermin-free; don’t forget to inspect drainage at ground level and window frames and latches.
• It is advisable to maintain outbuildings and garden structures, greenhouses, walls and fences in the same way  you check your main home. If a major storm is forecast it is also advisable to secure or put away garden furniture and trampolines which can be dangerous in high winds and move cars and boats away from large trees.
• If you are in a flood-prone area ensure you have sandbags and other flood measures in place as early as possible.
• You should avoid all large trees during a storm but either before or after a storm it is worth making regular inspections of trees within your property and on the boundary. You should check for disease and damage to larger branches and it is worth contacting a tree specialist if you have any concerns; in an ideal world large trees which are too close to your house should be removed but this isn’t always possible if a preservation order is in place. Power lines and oil tanks are suspectable too damage from falling branches and trees.