Preparing Your Home For Extreme Weather

Extreme weather has always been associated with causing damage to homes and businesses. And with extreme weather events becoming more common, you never know when your home could be affected. From big storms to heatwaves and heavy rain, your home could be at risk of damage. 

You can’t completely protect a property from severe weather, but there are things you can do to help keep your home and your family safe. Take a look at this guide to help you prepare your home for when conditions take a turn for the worse. 

Check your roof, walls and gutters

Roofing and guttering can become easily damaged during various weather events, especially heavy wind and rain. Regular checks for loose tiles can stop water from getting in, and it’s also important to check after some heavy rain too. Cleaning your gutters frequently can also help prevent the debris build-up that can cause water damage to your home. 

Don’t forget to check for signs of water damage, such as damp and mould, both inside and outside of your home. These can be made worse during bad weather, so they should be tackled quickly. Using storm shutters can provide additional support during a storm, keeping your walls, windows and doors protected from the elements.

Protect windows and glass features

Your windows and glass doors are extremely vulnerable during storms and hailstones. Try to keep outdoor furniture and other items far enough away from your windows and doors, and keep an eye out for any loose trees that could break during a storm – you don’t want branches smashing your glass! If, however, damage occurs, you can get swift help from a glazier to help take care of it quickly. After a spell of bad weather, you should also check the seals around your windows and doors to make sure they haven’t become damaged – you don’t want them letting in cold air.

Secure any outdoor furniture or loose items

You can always rely on strong winds to send your garden furniture flying into a neighbour’s garden! But you can stop it from happening (as best you can!) by covering it and weighing it down. Don’t forget other items like bins, garden tools and anything else that might get blown about in a storm. 

Make sure you’ve got an emergency kit to hand

It’s just not your home that you need to think about during periods of extreme weather, it’s the people (and any animals) inside too. Having an emergency kit can give you peace of mind, and while you may never need it, you’ll always be glad it’s there. Your kit should include things like a torch and a radio, important documents and supplies of food, water, and essential medicines. You can also prepare something similar for your car to ensure you’ve got supplies when you’re out and about.

The weather may be out of your hands, but you can take steps to make yourself and your home more resilient. Regular maintenance is a good place to start, while having some emergency supplies can also help you prepare for any extreme weather events. A little prep now can go a long way towards saving time, money and stress in the future. 

More Ways to Protect Your Home from Severe Weather

The steps above cover the most visible vulnerabilities, but there are a few more things worth addressing, particularly as UK weather patterns have become harder to predict. The 2024 to 2025 storm season alone saw six named storms, with Storm Éowyn in January 2025 the most powerful storm to hit the UK in over a decade, and more than one in six properties in England are now at risk of flooding. Given that, it’s worth going a bit further than the basics.

• Check aerials, satellite dishes, and your loft hatch. These are easy to overlook because they’re out of sight, but aerials and satellite dishes need to be properly attached before a storm, and loose bricks around a chimney stack should be removed. Your loft door is worth checking too, as pressure changes during storms can cause it to lift if it isn’t properly secured.
• Insulate your pipes before winter. Frozen and burst pipes are one of the most common and costly results of a severe cold snap. Foam pipe insulation is available from any local DIY shop and is cheap to fit. It’s also worth keeping the heating on a low background setting during very cold spells rather than turning it off completely, even when the house is empty.
• Trim overhanging trees and branches near the house. Branches can easily snap or break off and cause damage during strong winds, so pruning any trees close to your home before storm season is worthwhile. If you have large trees, a professional tree surgeon is the safest option. It’s also worth flagging to your neighbours if there are trees on their side that could pose a risk to your property.
• Know how to turn off your utilities. If flooding or significant structural damage occurs, knowing how to turn off your gas, electricity, and water quickly reduces the risk of secondary damage or injury. This is worth learning before an emergency rather than during one.
• Sign up for Met Office weather alerts for your area. The Met Office weather forecast app allows you to set up alerts for your specific area and receive National Severe Weather Warnings in advance. Getting a few hours’ warning rather than being caught off guard makes a significant practical difference, particularly when it comes to securing outdoor items and moving vehicles to safer positions.
• Review your home insurance before severe weather season. Standard home insurance policies cover many forms of storm damage, but it’s worth checking the specifics. Some policies have particular definitions of what counts as a storm, and flood cover is sometimes a separate addition rather than included by default. Checking this now, rather than after damage has occurred, means you know what you’re covered for.

Weather Threat Checklist at a Glance

What to Put in Your Home Emergency Kit

The Red Cross emergency kit guidance is a solid starting point, but here’s a more specific breakdown of what’s actually useful to have ready at home before a severe weather event.

• Torch and spare batteries, or a wind-up torch. Phone torches drain battery fast and you’ll want to preserve your phone charge for communication.
• Battery-powered or wind-up radio. During a power cut, a radio is often the most reliable way to get weather updates and emergency information.
• Portable power bank, fully charged. For keeping phones and other devices running during a power cut. Keep it topped up rather than saving it for emergencies.
• At least three days of water and non-perishable food. Two litres of water per person per day is the standard guidance. Non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking is most practical.
• Essential medicines and a basic first aid kit. Any prescription medicines, pain relief, and first aid basics including plasters, antiseptic, and a bandage.
• Copies of important documents. Insurance policy numbers and emergency contact details are particularly useful. Keep physical copies rather than relying entirely on your phone.
• Warm clothing and blankets. If heating fails in cold weather, having layers and blankets accessible makes a significant difference.
• Cash. Card payments often fail during power cuts affecting card machines or internet connectivity. Having a small amount of cash means you can still buy essentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check my roof and gutters for storm damage?

Twice a year as a minimum, ideally once in autumn before the main storm and frost season and once in spring after it. It’s also worth a quick check after any particularly severe weather event. You don’t necessarily need to get on the roof yourself: inspecting visible tiles from ground level, checking the loft interior for any signs of water ingress, and looking at gutters for obvious blockages or sagging are all things you can do safely. A professional roofer should be called for anything that requires going up, and any significant concerns should be addressed before bad weather rather than during or after it.

Does home insurance cover storm damage?

Most standard home insurance policies include some form of storm damage cover, but the specifics matter. Insurers typically define a storm by wind speed or weather severity, which means cosmetic damage from milder weather may not be covered. Flood damage is frequently excluded from standard policies and sold as an optional add-on or separate policy. It’s worth reading your policy carefully and calling your insurer if anything is unclear before you need to make a claim. Keeping records of maintenance you’ve carried out also helps when making a claim, as it demonstrates the damage was caused by the weather rather than pre-existing neglect.

What should I do immediately if my home is damaged in a storm?

Safety first: if there is structural damage, flooding, or any risk to gas or electrical systems, prioritise getting your family out and calling the relevant emergency services or utility provider. Once it’s safe, document the damage with photographs before any clean-up or repairs begin, as this is important for your insurance claim. Contact your insurer as soon as possible and follow their guidance on emergency repairs. Temporary repairs to prevent further damage, such as covering a broken window or a damaged roof section with a tarpaulin, are generally covered by insurance as long as you notify your insurer promptly. Keep receipts for any emergency work carried out.

How do I protect my home from flooding specifically?

Knowing whether your property is in a flood risk area is the starting point. You can check your flood risk using the Environment Agency’s online flood map for planning. If you’re in a risk area, flood barriers for ground-floor doors and airbricks, raising electrical sockets and appliances above likely flood levels, and knowing in advance how to turn off utilities quickly all reduce potential damage. Signing up for the Environment Agency’s flood warning service means you get advance notice when flood risk in your area increases, giving you time to act. If your area floods regularly, specialist flood insurance or a review of your existing policy is worth pursuing.

What are the signs that my pipes might freeze or have burst?

No water coming from taps when temperatures have dropped significantly is often the first sign that a pipe has frozen. Other signs include unusual noises from pipes, visible frost on exposed pipework, and in the case of a burst, water stains on walls or ceilings appearing suddenly after a cold spell. If you suspect a pipe has frozen, turn off the water supply at the stopcock and call a plumber. Never use a blowtorch or high heat to try to thaw a pipe yourself. The most effective prevention is insulating pipes in unheated spaces, including lofts and under-floor areas, before the cold season begins.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.