'Prepare for the worst' - Homeowners urged to prepare for power cuts ahead of Storm Éowyn

As Ireland braces itself for Storm Éowyn, homeowners are being urged to prepare for possible power cuts and to have an emergency kit and fully charged mobile phone in their home.

The advice comes after the extensive damage caused to the electricity network across the country during Storm Darragh and the extended cold snap of January 2025.

People are also being advised to make it their priority to find out what cover their home insurance offers for any damage or loss that arises during the storm, including from any possible power outages – such as the loss of freezer food, damage to electronics and household appliances, and the costs of alternative accommodation in the event a power cut renders a home uninhabitable.

Geraldine Kelly, Head of Operations, Personal Lines at Gallagher in Ireland said:

“The ferocity of recent storms means that power cuts have become all too common an occurrence in Ireland when bad weather hits, with many homeowners enduring considerable hardship as a result.

“Hundreds of thousands of homeowners lost their power during Storm Darragh, while tens of thousands did so in the extended cold snap in January 2025.

“Many of these homeowners had no water, lighting, heating, mobile phone signals and broadband connections as a result – and some were without power for up to a week.

“When bad weather is forecast, it is always prudent to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Take the steps available to you to protect and your home.”

Experts have also suggested that even when a weather warning is not imminent, homeowners should go about knowing exactly where they stand when it comes their insurance cover.

Ms Kelly advised,

“Being confident in what you are covered for could considerably ease the stress which people face when hit by storm.

“Most home insurance policies for example cover a certain amount of losses from a power cut if the outage is due to unforeseen circumstances such as a storm, flood, or fire.

“This could include some cover towards the cost of alternative accommodation in the event there is a prolonged outage and you have been left with no heating during cold weather.

“Homeowners who end up throwing out a freezer full of food after a prolonged power cut may also have some cover for the contents of their freezer.

“In addition, if a power surge occurs during a storm and damages your electronics or household appliances, you may be covered for the repair or replacement of these items under your home insurance policy.”

Gallagher is also advising homeowners to check if they can rely on their home insurance to cover damage to outdoor furniture – as not all insurers cover storm damage to outdoor furniture.

Ms Kelly explained:

“While most home insurers cover damage caused by a storm or fallen trees, that cover may be restricted to sheds and outbuildings – and it may not extend to furniture.

“Some insurers only cover damage to garden furniture – if that damage is caused by attempted stealing.”

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Top Ten Tips to Prevent Wind Damage

1. Cut down - or top - large trees which are very close to your home. A fallen tree can cause huge damage to property. Check your windows and electricity cables to make sure that no lose branches are hanging nearby as these can cause a lot of damage during a storm.
2. Alert ESB Networks to any trees in your area that are leaning on overhead electricity lines – or any broken or damaged branches hanging over or on electricity lines. Under no circumstances should you attempt to cut the trees or branches yourself. ESB Networks has tree cutting crews who will assess if the trees need to be cut down. Getting these problems addressed before a storm or bad weather hits could prevent the loss of power to your home.
3. Make sure windows are firmly closed to reduce the likelihood of breaking glass.
4. Anchor your trampoline so it doesn’t blow away in a storm – or even better, dismantle it until the good weather returns. A rogue trampoline could damage your property – or even your neighbour’s.
5. Tie down, or store away, loose garden furniture as they can cause damage if they are caught in a storm of heavy wind. If you don’t have an indoor area to store garden furniture in, tying your outdoor furniture with sandbags is probably the easiest way to secure it during strong storms.
6. Ensure that cars, motorbikes and garden furniture are stored in a safe place. Vehicles can be damaged by falling trees, heavy branches or lose roof tiles. If you don’t have a garage to store such items, remove them from areas where they may get damaged.
7. Have an emergency kit in your home and a fully charged mobile phone. It’s advisable that your emergency kit includes emergency contacts, batteries, a torch, waterproof clothes, bottled water and food.
8. Check your flat roof for any wear and tear or damage – and address any issues before bad weather hits. The repair bill for damage caused by a collapsed flat roof could run into tens of thousands of euro.
9. Inspect your roof for loose tiles or damaged chimney pots, and get any problems repaired. Make sure your aerial and chimney is secure.
10. Make sure that fences are securely in place so that they are not blown away during a storm – fences can cause significant damage if they fly into homes or sheds.

Top Ten Tips to Prevent Flood Damage

1. Check all your gutters and drains are clean and clear of any leaves or other debris – as this could cause blockages and lead to flooding.
2. If you live in a flood-prone area, invest in flood barriers and have some sand bags to hand.
3. Move valuables and other personal items to a safe area in your home (such as upstairs or high above ground level) if you’re expecting floods in your area.
4. Don’t park your car in an area where is could be susceptible to flood damage.
5. Ensure you know where water, gas and electricity mains are, should you need to turn them off or on at any stage.
6. Check your external walls and windows to ensure they are adequately water resistant.  There are various different products, sealants and varnishes available to waterproof any areas of concern.
7. If you are carrying out any extension or building work on your house, ensure electrical sockets are placed above the height which could be reached by floodwater. In addition, it would be prudent to place air conditioning, heating or gas units on the first floor of your home or in the attic.
8. If you live in a flood-prone area, always ensure that you have a stock of materials which are useful during a flood, such as plywood, plastic sheeting, sandbags (unfilled), sand, nails, a hammer, shovel, bricks, blocks of wood and a saw.
9. Ensure that any streams, rivers or lakes on your property are able to flow freely. Check for blockages in any stream and ensure that the banks have not eroded.
10. Check government websites, such as flooding.ie and floodinfo.ie, for advice.