Danish insurers urge neighborly help during cloudburst warnings

As Denmark braces for a weekend of heavy rain and thunderstorms, insurance companies are advising residents to enlist the help of neighbors and family to protect their homes. With many people away on summer vacation, the risk of damage from potential cloudbursts is a significant concern.

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If you are on vacation, it can be beneficial to ask a neighbor, family member, or friend to check in on the home.

Insurers If and Alm. Brand are proactively reaching out to customers with advice on securing properties. "If you are on vacation, it can be beneficial to ask a neighbor, family member, or friend to check in on the home," said Jan Graversgaard, vice president for Building and Housing at Alm. Brand. He suggested actions such as ensuring drains are clear of debris, checking that basement windows are closed, and moving items away from basement floors.

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They can, for example, ensure that drains and grates are not covered by leaves and dirt, check that basement windows are closed, and move things away from the basement floor if there is access to the home.

Helene Ibsen, head of housing at If, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that delaying damage assessment until returning home can be too late to limit the extent of harm. Alm. Brand has already sent out 75,000 text messages to customers in affected areas, offering tips like cleaning gutters and raising valuables at least 30 centimeters off basement floors. The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) forecasts strong thunderstorms across the country from Sunday evening into Monday, with the potential for 15 to 25 millimeters of rain within 30 minutes, accompanied by hail and strong winds.

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If you only discover the damage when you get home, it can be too late to limit the extent.