Storm Damage Without the Scramble: Your First 48-Hour Home Recovery Plan

The wind drops, the rain stops, and the temptation is to rush outside or start ringing round for repairs. Resist it for an hour. The first 48 hours after a UK storm are about safety, evidence and stopping small problems getting bigger. Panic-buying a generator or hiring the first roofer who knocks is rarely the cheapest route.

Safety first: the first hour

Before you start inspecting, make sure it is safe to do so.

• Do not touch electrical fittings, sockets or appliances that have been affected by water.
• If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 and leave the property.
• Stay away from fallen power lines and damaged trees.
• Do not climb ladders in wet or windy conditions.
• Check on vulnerable neighbours if it is safe to do so.

Take photos before you move anything. A quick video walk-through of each room can be just as useful as a dozen stills.

Outside: a slow lap, not a climb

Walk the boundary of the property and look up. You can often spot missing tiles, lifted flashing or a damaged chimney from the ground with binoculars. Check gutters and downpipes for blockages or detachment, and look at drains for signs of overflow.

Fence panels, shed roofs, garden furniture and bins are common casualties. Photograph them where they are before you move anything. If a fence panel is loose, secure it only if you can do so safely; otherwise keep people and pets away from it.

Do not climb onto the roof. A roof inspection is a job for a competent roofer, and a fall is far more expensive than a repair.

Inside: a room-by-room check

Loft and ceilings

Take a torch into the loft. Look for daylight through the roof, wet insulation, stains on rafters or water dripping onto stored items. In the rooms below, check ceilings for new stains, bulges or sagging. A bulging ceiling can hold a lot of water—do not prod it. Put a bucket underneath and call a professional.

Walls, windows and doors

Look for damp patches, bubbling paint, cracks that have widened, and water on windowsills. Check that windows and doors still close properly. Cracked glazing should be made safe, but avoid unnecessary DIY if a professional is needed.

Kitchen and bathroom

Check under the sink, around the bath and behind the washing machine. Storm-related power cuts can affect appliances, and water can get in through extractor vents. If anything electrical has been wet, leave it off and get it checked.

Floors and electrics

Look for lifted floorboards, damp patches on carpets and tripping hazards. Test smoke alarms. If sockets or extension leads have been affected by water, do not use them until an electrician has checked them.

Finding the hidden water

Water travels. A stain on a ceiling may come from a roof leak several metres away. A musty smell in a bedroom can point to wet insulation in the loft. Look for paint that has started to bubble, skirting boards that have swollen, and dark patches on walls that were not there before.

A moisture meter can be useful if you already own one, but your eyes and nose are often enough. Trust your instincts: if something feels damp or smells damp, investigate.

Insurance: photograph first, repair second

Your insurer will want evidence. Take wide shots of each room and close-ups of the damage. Photograph damaged items before you throw them away, and keep receipts for any emergency repairs. Check your policy for the emergency helpline and your excess—the amount you pay before the insurer contributes.

Do not throw away damaged items until your insurer says you can. If you need to make the property safe—boarding a window, for example—do it, keep the receipts, and tell your insurer. Be clear about what happened. Storm damage is usually treated differently from wear and tear or maintenance issues.

What can wait, and what can't

Can usually wait: cosmetic garden damage, a fence panel, shed felt, minor gutter clearing, non-urgent repointing and internal decorating.

Do not wait: an active leak, a missing roof tile that is letting water in, broken glass, electrical damage, gas smells, structural movement, or sewage flooding. These need professional help or urgent temporary repairs.

Avoid cold callers offering immediate roof repairs. Ask neighbours for recommendations, check reviews, and get more than one quote where possible. A reputable local trader will not mind you asking for credentials.

The money bit: plan for the excess and the small jobs

As of November 2026, building costs and insurance excesses are not small. Before the next storm, check what your policy excess actually is and keep a modest repair pot for the jobs that are not worth claiming for. A £250 fence repair may be cheaper than a claim that affects your premium.

If you do claim, keep a simple folder—photos, receipts, correspondence and a list of damaged items. It makes the process calmer and faster.

A 48-hour timeline

Hour one: safety checks, photos, gas and electrical precautions.

Day one: exterior look from ground level, then room-by-room interior check. Make safe anything dangerous.

Day two: contact your insurer if needed, arrange temporary repairs, get quotes for permanent work, and log everything.

Storms are unsettling, but most damage is manageable if you slow down and document it. Deal with the dangerous things first, photograph everything, and let the cosmetic repairs wait until the pressure has passed.