Real Estate Blog

Dealing with natural disasters

February 23, 2022

Floods, storms, and fires have already affected many homes in Luxembourg. Although they are uncontrollable, there are ways to protect yourself and bounce back from these disasters.

Adopt the right actions

Dealing with flooding:

  • move to higher ground and put valuables in a safe place
  • caulk openings to prevent water from entering
  • provide an emergency exit to prevent getting stuck (be careful, electric shutters may be inoperable in case of a power failure).

Dealing with storms:

  • board up windows and doors
  • secure outdoor furniture to prevent it from blowing away

To prevent fires:

  • pay attention to items that may start a fire (appliances, candles, etc.)
  • install smoke detectors and maintain them (change the batteries twice a year.)
  • clear out rain gutters
  • keep lawns watered and mown
  • prune trees

In case of an earthquake:

  • secure loose furniture to the wall and place heavy objects on the floor
  • quickly take shleter underneath a sturdy piece of furniture (desk or table)

It is also strongly recommended to cut off the gas and electricity supply and to bring your home insurance papers with you.

Buy home insurance

The first thing to do is to compare the offers according to the coverage of each one and the risks present in the area of the dwelling (in a flood zone for example). It is not necessary to go for the cheapest one, which will certainly cover less damage.

Lalux insurance proposes easyPROTECT, a multi-risk insurance policy fully customizable according to the needs and requirements of the client. In addition to insuring against various natural disasters, it protects personal belongings worldwide, indoor and outdoor furniture up to the purchase price for 10 years and household appliances, audiovisuals, and computers up to new for 5 years.
Other companies offering similar services in Luxembourg.

Governmental aid

After each disaster, the State sets up aid for disaster victims. To be eligible, you just have to fill in and send back the forms available on governmental websites. These steps are taken after the insurance reimbursements and the time frame to complete them is quite long. For example, assistance for victims of the July 14/15, 2021 floods can be applied for until March 31, 2022. Compensation depends on the extent and nature of the damage, the financial situation of the household, and the number of dependents.

Post-damage renovations

Once you have been compensated, you can finally start renovating your house or apartment in Luxembourg. To do so, you can make estimates via devis.lu, a free platform of more than 120 craftsmen in Luxembourg. You can get up to 6 estimates very quickly.

Similar article: Discover easyPROTECT Home