Weathering the storm: 5 tips for you and your business
Recent months have seen storms and flooding cause damage to homes, farms, and businesses across Wales. Now, more than ever, it’s vital for farmers to know how to protect their homes and livelihoods – here are five practical steps from FUW Insurance Services Ltd to help safeguard your farm and business.
1. Know the risks
Understanding how storms and flooding could affect your land and buildings is the first step in building resilience. Review official flood-risk maps to identify vulnerable areas, including fields, tracks, livestock housing and storage buildings. Create an up-to-date farm map marking key areas such as low-lying ground, drainage routes, machinery locations and safe high-ground.
Use this information to produce a practical flood plan for your farm. This should outline how and where livestock would be moved, where machinery and hazardous materials can be stored safely, and who is responsible for each action. Running rehearsals during calm weather helps ensure that everyone is ready to act quickly when conditions deteriorate.
2. Stay one step ahead
Timely information is essential when severe weather threatens. Register for flood alerts covering the full extent of your land and familiarise yourself with the different alert levels so you know exactly when to prepare or take action. You can register online with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), or sign-up by phone through their 24-hour Floodline service 0345 988 1188
Once a warning is issued, activate your flood plan: secure vulnerable equipment, and get ready to relocate livestock or essential supplies. Regularly checking verified weather forecasts gives you the head start needed to protect your home and business.
3. Insurance – get the right cover
As the seasons change, FUW Insurance Services emphasizes the importance of regularly reviewing insurance coverage to ensure farmers are adequately protected against a wide range of risks. Weather events, which are becoming more unpredictable and severe, can have significant financial impacts on agricultural operations. It’s crucial for farmers to assess their policies to ensure they have the right protection in place. This includes coverage for key assets such as:
Buildings and Infrastructure: This protects agricultural buildings, barns, silos, and any other structures that house equipment, livestock, or crops.
Machinery and Equipment: Farmers rely on various types of machinery for daily operations, and it’s essential to ensure these are insured against loss, damage, or theft.
Livestock Housing: Protecting structures used for housing livestock is critical, especially in areas prone to severe weather or flooding.
Flood Damage: Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather, farmers should also review their flood cover to ensure that property and crops are safeguarded against rising water levels.
Business Interruption Cover: FUW Insurance Services recommends farmers consider business interruption cover alongside protecting physical assets. This coverage is vital during weather-related disruptions or disease outbreaks that halt operations and reduce income. It helps safeguard farmers financially by covering lost income and extra recovery costs during downtime.
The Importance of Keeping Records
One of the most valuable steps a farmer can take to streamline the claims process in the event of a disaster is maintaining accurate and up-to-date records. This includes:
- Recent Photos: Visual documentation of property, machinery, livestock, and infrastructure will help substantiate a claim.
- Inventories: A detailed list of equipment, machinery, and livestock can serve as evidence if assets are lost or damaged.
- Receipts and Purchase Records: Keeping receipts for major purchases, repairs, and improvements can help verify the value of assets and costs involved.
These records should be stored in a safe, easily accessible location to ensure quick retrieval when needed, and to avoid any complications during the claims process.
- Claims – what you need to know
After a severe weather event, safety should always be the priority. FUW Insurance Services stresses that farmers should be aware of potential electrical hazards, structural damage, and other risks when inspecting the property. Here are some important steps to follow:
- Assess Safety: Check for immediate threats to health and safety, including downed power lines, damaged buildings, or hazardous debris.
- Document the Damage: If it’s safe to do so, begin documenting the damage, but never compromise personal safety.
- Temporary Repairs: If possible, make temporary or emergency repairs to prevent further damage (such as covering broken windows or securing damaged roofs). However, it’s essential to inform us before undertaking any work. Most policies require that the insurer be notified and approve repairs, especially for major damage.
Making a Claim: Clear and Accurate Documentation
When submitting a claim, the key to a smooth process is thorough and honest documentation of all damages:
- Take Multiple Photos: Capture detailed photos of the damage from various angles, including close-ups and wide shots to show the extent of the destruction.
- Don’t Dispose of Damaged Items: Keep all damaged items available for inspection by the insurance adjuster. Disposal could hinder the ability to assess the full scope of the damage.
- Be Honest and Detailed: Provide an accurate, factual account of the damages. Avoid exaggerating the extent of the damage or omitting details. The more precise the claim, the more likely it will be processed quickly.
5. Build resilience
Proactive maintenance is one of the best defences against storm damage. Inspect roofs and outbuildings for loose tiles, weakened structures or unsecured fixtures, and make repairs early. Clear gutters, drains and ditches, and secure loose items that could become hazardous in high winds.
Insurance is Not a Maintenance Policy: The Importance of Regular Maintenance and Repairs
It’s essential to understand that an insurance policy is designed to protect against unforeseen risks, such as accidents, damage, or loss caused by external factors like extreme weather, fire, or theft. However, it is not a substitute for regular maintenance and proper upkeep of your property, machinery, and livestock housing.
While insurance provides coverage for unexpected events, it does not cover damages resulting from neglect, wear and tear, or lack of proper maintenance. The onus is on the policyholder to ensure that all assets are regularly maintained and in good working condition. This includes:
- Maintaining Buildings and Infrastructure: Regularly inspecting and repairing buildings and structures to prevent deterioration.
- Machinery and Equipment: Ensuring that all machinery and equipment are serviced according to manufacturer guidelines to keep them operational.
- Livestock Housing: Keeping housing structures safe and secure for livestock, including addressing any issues with roofing, flooring, or ventilation.
Wear and Tear Not Covered
Insurance policies typically do not cover damage or loss due to ordinary wear and tear that occurs over time as a result of daily use. This includes things like:
- Roof Leaks Due to Age: If a roof deteriorates gradually due to age or lack of maintenance, this would not be covered by your insurance.
- Mechanical Failure Due to Lack of Servicing: If a tractor or combine harvester fails due to a lack of regular servicing or maintenance, the repair costs will likely not be covered.
- Cracked Walls or Doors from Long-Term Exposure to the Elements: Damage caused by gradual exposure, such as fading paint, rust, or weakened foundations due to long-term neglect, is not considered an insurable risk.
Duty to Maintain Your Property
Insurance policies are structured with the understanding that policyholders have a duty to maintain their assets. In the event of a claim, insurers may assess whether proper maintenance was carried out, and failure to do so could result in a reduction of the payout or even a denial of the claim. It’s therefore crucial for farmers to carry out routine inspections and address any maintenance issues promptly to ensure that their property remains insurable.
While insurance gives peace of mind against unexpected events, regular maintenance is the responsibility of the owner and plays a critical role in preventing damage before it happens.
FUW Insurance Services: Tailored Support for Farmers
FUW Insurance Services is ready to help farmers review their current policies or arrange tailored protection. From property and livestock to machinery and business interruption, we aim to provide comprehensive cover and peace of mind during severe weather. Farmers are encouraged to seek expert advice to ensure their insurance meets their needs and supports them through challenging times. Get in touch with us for more information.
FUW Insurance Services is a trading style of FUW Insurance Services Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration number 615251. Registered Office: Llys Amaeth, Plas Gogerddan, ABERYSTWYTH, SY23 3BT. Registered in England & Wales number 07981993