St Jude's Day storm caused chaos for millions this morning as road, rail and air transport were all disrupted.
But, homes have been affected too. Hurricane-force winds and hard rain have left around 270,000 properties without power, while others have woken up to damaged roofs, broken windows and fallen trees.
You'll be thankful then you can claim on your home insurance to cover the cost of any damage. But can you be sure it will pay out?
Buildings insurance policies, for example, will cover any financial loss caused by storm damage, but problems can arise if you and your insurer have differing views on what actually constitutes a 'storm'.
Then there can be issues around whether the damage to your building was, 'caused by a storm or whether any damage caused during a storm was predominantly caused by that storm.' Confused? Read on...
When is a storm not a storm?
Although your buildings policy will cover you for 'storm damage', there's a good chance it won't come with a definition as to what exactly constitutes a storm. So you'll have to assume that a storm will generally involve high winds and a mixture of rain, hail or snow. Or all three if you're really unlucky.
And then there's the issue that storm damage can be caused to your property by other extremes of bad weather but without any particularly high winds.
To define exactly what a 'high wind' is, insurers will often look towards the Beaufort Scale, which categorises wind speed on a scale of zero to 12, and only winds above a certain point on this scale will be classified as 'storm force' and severe enough to do damage to a property.
And none of this is any good if your house has been damaged in a storm but the wind speed means it doesn't quite make the cut! So check the terms of your policy and check the Ts and Cs. If the guidelines around storm damage are unclear, get in touch with your insurer to see where you stand.
Was the damage caused by the storm?
The condition of your property can also play a part in whether or not your claim for storm damage is successful. For example, if any part of your property was deemed to be in a poor state of repair before the storm hit, there's a good chance your claim won't be upheld.
Most policies will stipulate the building must be in 'good shape' and some may even exclude damage caused by wear and tear or gradual deterioration, which may be listed as 'gradually operating causes'.
Roof tiles are a notoriously grey area and if it is deemed they would have been displaced regardless of whether or not a storm hit, your claim won't be upheld.
If a roof tile blows off your house and hits your car, this won't be covered under a home insurance policy and a claim will have to be lodged with your car insurance company. Similarly, if a tile blows of and hit someone else's car, they'll have to claim on their car insurance and the matter is out of your hands - though irate car owners can take a bit of persuading.
Even if a tree blows down during a storm and hits your house, something which seems commonplace during storms in the UK, you may not be covered for this so check the terms of your policy.
If a tree has been blown down during a storm but has caused no other damage to your property you may find the cost of removing the tree is not covered. You may even find that you can't make a claim if a falling tree has demolished part of your house so, once again, check your policy and if you're not covered it may be worth adding some limited cover for an additional premium.
Other problems can occur if there is damaged cause by large volumes of snow - if the offending snow fall occurred during a storm then it'll most likely be classed as storm damage. If, however, it gradually builds up during a number of flurries, it probably won't be.
But what can you do if you're unhappy with the decision your insurer has reached regarding your claim for storm damage?
A claim for accidental damage?
So, a big storm has hit, wind speeds have hit the right level on the Beaufort Scale and a load of tiles have blown off your roof and the accompanying rainfall has turned your bedroom into a wet room.
The good news is you can claim for storm damage. The bad news is that you may only be able to claim for the damage caused to your roof as, technically, this was caused by the missing roof tiles - had they been in place, the room wouldn't have been submerged.
Yes, this does seem convoluted but, again, check the terms of your policy as you may be able to claim for the damage to your ceiling if you're covered for 'accidental damage' and the contents of your room should be covered by your contents insurance - you have got contents insurance, right? If not, it's better late than never, so start shopping around now.
Even if your building is in poor state of repair, you may be able to make a claim for accidental damage, though.
And if your claim still falls on deaf ears but you remain steadfast that it should be upheld, the next step is to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) which has the capacity to uphold your claim if it deems it valid.
Here are our top tips to help you make a successful claim on your home insurance.
1. Do what you can to prevent further damage
Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property and reduce the risk of harm to others -but ONLY if this poses no risk to yourself. For example, if your roof is damaged and it's easy to access, it's worth covering it in a plastic sheet or tarpaulin to minimise further damage. But if access is tricky, leave well alone.
Never attempt to repair something that needs a professional - trees that have fallen should only be moved with the help of an expert.
If your home has been flooded, turn off your gas and electricity supply.
2. Contact your insurer
Contact your insurer as soon as you can and provide as much information as possible about what has happened. Damage to your property is usually covered by your buildings insurance, while contents insurance will cover damage to your possessions.
If you need to employ a contractor to remove debris or start repairs, it's best to check with your buildings insurance provider first. Some insurers will require you to use a specified tradesman and if you don't, your claim could be invalidated. There should be a helpline number on your insurance policy that you can call.
If you need to get emergency repairs carried out, be sure to keep hold of the receipt.
3. Take photos
Taking photos of the damage around your home, or even filming it, will help to support your claim. Don't be tempted to throw anything out without discussing it with your insurer first as these items will need to be assessed.
4. Don't exaggerate
Dealing with damage around your home can be stressful, but avoid exaggerating your home insurance claim. If you're not honest, your claim could be rejected.
5. Arrange alternative accommodation
If your home has been severely damaged and you need to move to alternative accommodation while repairs are carried out, the cost of this will usually be covered under your insurance policy. However, it's best to check when you speak to your insurance provider.
What to remember
Don't forget that when you make a home insurance claim, you will have to pay an excess. If your excess is high and the damage is relatively small, you may find it works out cheaper to pay for the damage out of your own pocket.
Also bear in mind that the cost of your home insurance will rise the following year if you make a claim - in fact, according to our number-crunchers at MoneySuperMarket, claiming for storm damage could push up your premiums by 33.9% (or around £47) a year.
Don't simply accept your renewal quote though - the best deals are usually offered to new customers, not existing ones, so always shop around to compare quotes with MoneySuperMarket.
This is even more important if your home has been flooded as in the most severe cases, premiums can be boosted by as much as £2,000 a year. However, from 2015, a new scheme, Flood Re, is set to come into force which will cap home insurance premiums according to Council Tax bands for those whose homes have been flooded. You can read more about this in Mark Hooson's article.
In the meantime, the insurance industry's Statement of Principles will continue to run. This ensures householders can renew their cover, regardless of the flood risk, so long as the government funded flood defence schemes. However, premiums and excesses can be high as they are calculated to reflect the risk you face.
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