How do I prepare my home for a storm?

Most storm damage in an ordinary house comes from loose objects becoming projectiles and from water that could not drain away. Both are prevented in an hour beforehand.

Safety

What you'll need

• Torch
• Storage space for garden items (optional)
• Phone charger and power bank (optional)

Step by step

1. Bring in or secure everything loose outside.Furniture, parasols, bins, plant pots, trampolines, bikes, tools. Anything that can be lifted by wind becomes a projectile and damages windows.
2. Clear gutters and drains.Overflowing gutters put water into the walls, and blocked drains flood. Heavy rain finds every blockage.
3. Check for anything already loose.Fence panels, tiles, aerials, gate latches, shed felt. Something already slightly loose is what fails first. Do this before the weather arrives.
4. Close and lock windows and doors.Locked windows are held at multiple points rather than one, which matters considerably in high wind.
5. Charge phones and power banks.Power cuts are the most likely disruption. A charged phone and a power bank cover most of what you need.
6. Find torches and check they work.Torches, not candles — candles cause fires, particularly in a household disrupted by a power cut.
7. Know where your stopcock, consumer unit and gas valve are.In the dark during a storm is the wrong time to be looking for them for the first time.
8. Move valuables away from windows and off the floor if flooding is a risk.Especially electronics and documents. It takes ten minutes and prevents the worst losses.

Tips

• Photograph the exterior of your property before a forecast storm. It makes any insurance claim far more straightforward.
• Keep some drinking water and food that needs no cooking. Power cuts of a day or more are not unusual after a serious storm.
• Check on neighbours who may need help securing things, particularly older or less mobile ones.

Common mistakes

• Going onto the roof or up a ladder as weather arrives — High wind on a ladder is genuinely dangerous. Any roof or gutter work must be done well before, or afterwards.
• Leaving garden furniture out 'because it is heavy' — Storm winds move heavier objects than people expect, and a table through a window is a serious repair.
• Relying on candles during a power cut — They are a significant fire risk. Torches and charged phones are safer and more useful.

Questions people ask