According to Salva Kindlustus, the storm that hit Estonia last weekend caused the most damage to roofs, while the most accidents and major damages were recorded in Läänemaa. Haapsalu fortress was also affected.
“In the first six days of November, we received 35 damage reports, almost half of which concerned roofs damaged by stormy winds, and a third of the cases took place in Lääne County, where the amount of damage was also higher than average,” commented Karen Soosalu, head of the property damage department of Salva Kindlustus.
The biggest incident recorded in Salva was damage to the roof of an apartment association located on Lihula road in Haapsalu: the wind blew away the roof covering, causing damage of nearly 22,000 euros.
The storm did not spare the Haapsalu castle either – on the night of November 2, a strong wind tore several square meters of copper sheet from the roof of the castle’s Watch Tower and blew it into the castle yard. There was also damage to the roof of the ceramic roof tiles of the Garden Tower in the western ring wall of the fortress, where the storm tore off nearly a quarter of the roof tiles. The initial estimated amount of damage reaches 6,000 euros.
As a result of the storm, roofs also flew off in other parts of Estonia – Saaremaa, Harjumaa and Raplama.
In addition, the storm caused various other damages: twisting car gates and house doors, flying trampolines, tearing building facades, toppling trees, damaging balcony floor tiles, causing power outages and breaking heat pumps and boilers.
As of now, the storm has caused an estimated 70,000 euros in damages to Salva’s customers, but according to Soosalu, this amount may still change. “For example, in the village of Elbiku in Lääne County, a tree fell on a house during a storm, and to assess the extent of the damage, the tree must first be removed,” added Soosalu.
“We advise people to always prepare for difficult weather conditions and take storm warnings very seriously,” said Soosalu. “Take care of trees near buildings and have their condition regularly checked by a specialist. All objects that fly easily – trampolines, garden furniture, etc. – should be securely fastened or stored safely, because they can unexpectedly cause major damage.”
“During a storm, do not leave windows and doors open, and be especially careful when opening them, taking into account gusts of wind. Be sure to make sure that your car or other valuable property is not left under a tree, and when you leave home, remove the wires of home appliances and electronics from the wall – it would be wise to do this even when you are at home, if the device is not currently being used,” advised Soosalu.
Home insurance reminder:
- It is possible to insure the building and property against various risks, including storm damage. This includes cases caused by strong wind, hail or damage caused by the direct impact of objects carried or broken by strong wind.
- Home insurance helps with damages that occur to your own property. However, if a broken tree falls on a neighbor’s garden or, for example, on a neighbor’s car, home liability insurance comes to the rescue. In Salva’s practice, there are enough examples where an apparently healthy and viable tree breaks during a storm and damages the neighbor’s property.
- When it comes to home insurance, it makes sense to choose a comprehensive solution: to insure both the home, household items and liability.
- Pay attention to the size of the deductible to find the right solution for your family according to your income and savings. In case of some damage, such as a broken door or window glass, the deductible is automatically zero euros.
2024-11-08 11:28:00
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**Interview with Karen Soosalu, Head of Property Damage Department at Salva Kindlustus**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Karen. Can you tell us about the recent storm’s impact on buildings, specifically Haapsalu Castle?
**Karen Soosalu**: Thank you for having me. The recent storm that hit Estonia had a significant impact, with roofs being particularly affected. Haapsalu Castle was no exception—just on the night of November 2, we saw strong winds that tore copper sheets from the roof of the castle’s Watch Tower and damaged the Garden Tower roof, with an estimated damage of around 6,000 euros.
**Interviewer**: That sounds quite serious. How does the damage at Haapsalu Castle compare to the overall storm damage reported across the region?
**Karen Soosalu**: In total, Salva Kindlustus received 35 damage reports in the first six days of November, with nearly half related to roof damage due to the wind. Over a third of these incidents occurred in Läänemaa, where Haapsalu is located, indicating that our area was one of the hardest hit.
**Interviewer**: Aside from the castle, where else did you see significant damage?
**Karen Soosalu**: The storm caused a range of damages throughout Estonia, including in Saaremaa, Harjumaa, and Raplama. The most notable was a reported incident in Haapsalu where the wind blew off the roof covering of an apartment association, leading to nearly 22,000 euros in damages. We also noted various damages such as downed trees and broken facades across different locations.
**Interviewer**: Given the extent of the damage, what advice do you have for property owners moving forward?
**Karen Soosalu**: It’s crucial for property owners to prepare for severe weather conditions. We recommend regularly checking the condition of trees near buildings, taking storm warnings seriously, and securing any loose items that could become projectiles during a storm. Being proactive can make a significant difference in mitigating damage.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for those insights, Karen. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you. We hope the damages can be repaired quickly, especially for the historic Haapsalu Castle.
**Karen Soosalu**: Thank you! It’s important to remember that while the damages are unfortunate, the community is resilient, and we’ll work through this together.
