12 tips to protect your caravan or motorhome from extreme weather conditions

05 Dec 2013

(Please note before reading on, that although the following photos accompanying this article might look like some crazy tropical storm in the Caribbean, they are in fact taken from UK Coastal locations on 5th December 2013.)

‘Extreme’ weather conditions are something we often take for granted in the UK, and although we don’t quite have US-style hurricanes knocking on our door, we still occasionally get enough gusto to do some serious property damage.

The eastern part of the UK is currently being battered by the second biggest storm of this winter. Accompanying the gale force winds, snow and driving rain is an expected storm surge that could cause widespread flooding and damage across coastal towns and villages along the North Sea coast.

Storm surges happen during high tides. Swell, wind and incoming water amplify what would usually happen – at worse these volumes of water will breach sea defences, burst river/estuary banks and engulf low lying land.

Unfortunately many of our caravan and camping parks are located in these susceptible areas and there are certain times of year your holiday home could be at risk from flood damage or extreme weather breakages.

If you leave your caravan parked up during the off season or own a static that’s permanently anchored to a pitch its’ always worth following a few tips for the winter in the event of harsh weather – leaving your caravan exposed and prone to Mother Nature’s moods is never a wise choice.

  • Make sure all fly away objects are secure and tidied away. If you can, move outdoor furniture indoors or lock it away in a storage unit.
  • Unplug all electrical devices and raise them up off the floor.
  • Turn all electricity and gas supplies off.
  • Bed linen should be stored in overhead cupboards, as should blankets and any other fabric garments.
  • Make sure things like TV aerials are secure or take them down and move inside.
  • Uncouple gas bottles and lock away in a safe place.
  • Secure you caravan with tethers to avoid it tipping over in strong winds.
  • Remove anything valuable and take home.
  • Monitor severe weather warnings during bouts of harsh conditions. If your area is affected then heed advice and take precautionary action.

Most of these tips are common sense and owners will carry them out as a par for the course. If you’re faced with a situation such as the one today – the biggest storm surge in the last 60 years – then you should prepare for the worst.

  • Make sure your insurance cover is up to date.
  • Understand the details of your documentation and change your policy in advance if you can.
  • Try not to leave things until the last minute.

If your caravan and belongings are affected during fierce weather then you’ll need to assess damage as soon as conditions allow and act accordingly – let your insurance companies know as soon as possible. Getting the ball moving quickly will mean you’re (hopefully) out of pockets for less time.

Let us know in the comments below if you have any further tips for how to protect and/or minimise problems caused by severe weather.

(Images via Daily Mail/ABACA, BBC/Andrew Smith and ITV)

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