Does Farm Insurance Cover Storm Damage?

Ireland isn’t exactly known for its mild, calm weather conditions. But if another bad storm is on the horizon, will your farm be protected?

Yes, but not automatically. You need to make sure the farm insurance policy you buy covers storm damage if you need it, or add it to your policy.

Storm damage can wreak havoc on working farms. You should always make sure your livestock, buildings and machinery are protected against the elements.

In this article, we’ll cover the following questions:

• Can I claim on farm insurance for storm damage?
• What kind of storm damage can I expect?
• How do I protect my farm against storm damage?

When a storm hits, the effects on a farm can be widespread. So whether you need a policy to protect your farm against storms and floods or you need to make a claim, we’re here to help.

Can I claim on farm insurance for storm damage?

If your farm insurance policy covers storm damage, then yes, you can make a claim.

Not all farm insurance policies cover storm damage as standard. To make sure you’re covered for all eventualities, give your provider a call to check your insurable risks. If you haven’t got storm cover, you can usually add this to your policy fairly inexpensively.

In recent years, many home and business owners – including farmers – around the country are dealing with increasing difficulties due to storms and floods.

It’s worth logging onto Floodmaps.ie to assess the likelihood of flooding in your area in the future. If you feel your home or farm may be at risk of flooding you should contact your provider to find out what your current level of cover is for flooding – and if you don’t have it, to organise it as soon as possible.

Check all allowances and stipulations of your policy. For example, does the policy cover your farmhouse also? And if it’s flooded, will your policy pay for alternative accommodation while your home is being repaired? Some policies cover farm outbuildings, and some do not – so it’s vital to know what you need extra protection for.

If you find that your neighbourhood is an area which is liable to flood, consulting your neighbours about a combined prevention effort in the event of flooding could prove a lifesaver.

What kind of storm damage can I expect?

Most farm buildings are designed to handle severe weather conditions, but their survival depends on their age and maintenance as well as other factors. Storms are an event which actually consist of many separate risks, all of which are incredibly damaging to sheds and outbuildings.

Wind forces that act on a greenhouse or outbuilding are influenced by numerous factors including the basics wind speed, building orientation, exposure, height and shape of doors or vents that may be open. The wind passing over a building creates a positive pressure on the windward side and a negative pressure on the leeward side which, if great enough, can topple a building over.

Other damage can include broken glass, torn plastic, loose slates and uplifted foundation posts.

If a winter storm happens, snow loading can significantly damage the roofs on your farm. Crops and animal feed can be ruined, and fertilisers and chemicals compromised (although the damage should be minimal or nonexistent if they are properly stored).

Livestock can also suffer during storms, so be sure you have adequate livestock insurance in place too.

How do I protect my farm against storm damage?

The best protection you can give your farm is adequate insurance. You should talk to us first, listing all of your various outbuildings and sheds. We can give you a quote with and without storm damage and you can then make a more informed decision on whether you want storm cover.

Secure all loose slates and tie down anything that could blow away. If a storm is forecast, move your livestock into sheltered areas that aren’t prone to flooding. Make sure they have extra insulation such as hay, and will be able to stay nice and dry.

Also, keeping your machinery away from vulnerable structures such as old outbuildings and trees will lessen the risk of damage. Put them in a secure shelter out of harm’s way, which will also save them from frost and rust.

Talk to us today about your farm insurance needs

Feel free to give us a call today and talk to our insurance experts to find out how you can better insure your farm. We look forward to working with you!