Autumn Storms and Natural Hazards: How to Protect Your Property

Household contents & building insurance for storms and natural disasters

Why autumn storms matter every year

When the leaves change color and the days grow shorter, autumn in Switzerland doesn’t just bring cozy evenings and crisp air. It also often means strong winds, heavy rain, and sometimes even the first snowfalls of the season.

Every year, these weather conditions cause significant damage: fallen trees on cars, roofs blown off, flooded basements, or shattered windows. If you’ve ever seen roof tiles flying during a storm, you know how quickly a gust of wind can turn into a serious problem.

That’s why it’s worth thinking ahead about the right insurance cover. You can’t control the weather  but you can control whether the financial burden falls on you or on your insurance company.

What counts as natural damage in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, certain events are legally defined as natural hazards. These include:

• Storms and hail

• Flooding, high water, and avalanches

• Snow pressure

• Landslides and rockfall

👉 Important: earthquakes and ground movements are not automatically covered. These require an additional policy.

Why this matters

Many people assume “natural hazard” means “everything is included” but that’s not true. If you live in an area prone to earthquakes (such as Basel), you are not protected without extra cover. Also, heavy rainfalls – which are becoming more frequent  may be handled differently depending on your policy. Reading the details carefully can save you from nasty surprises.

Household contents insurance: Protecting your belongings

Household contents insurance covers damage to your movable property – everything not fixed to the building. That includes furniture, clothes, electronics, sports equipment, and even valuables like jewelry.

So if, after an autumn storm, water enters your basement and damages your washing machine or bike, this insurance usually applies.

💡 Real-life example: After a violent thunderstorm, water seeps through a basement window and destroys stored clothing and appliances. With a properly set-up household contents policy, you receive the replacement value – without paying everything out of pocket.

The common mistake

Many underestimate the value of their belongings. A TV, a laptop, clothing, and furniture quickly add up to tens of thousands of francs. If your insured sum is too low, you’re considered underinsured – and in a claim, the insurer will only pay proportionally. That’s why it’s crucial to regularly review your coverage amount.

Building insurance: Essential for homeowners

For property owners, building insurance is the foundation. It covers damage to the structure itself – roof, walls, windows, heating system, or façade.

That means if a storm rips off your roof or lightning strikes your house, you’re covered under building insurance.

👉 Swiss peculiarity: In most cantons, building insurance is mandatory and state-run. In a few cantons – such as Geneva, Ticino, and Valais – you must arrange it privately, which makes checking the details of your cover especially important.

Why to look closer

Building insurance protects the house, but not always everything around it. Fences, garden sheds, or solar panels may not be automatically included. Here, additional coverage may be necessary.

Checklist: Protecting your property from autumn storms

1. Review your policy – are storm, hail, and flooding included?

2. Insure the right value – set the sum insured at replacement value to avoid underinsurance.

3. Consider add-ons – for earthquakes, solar panels, or special valuables.

4. Take preventive measures – secure garden furniture, clean gutters, trim trees.

5. Have an emergency plan – take photos of damage and report immediately to your insurer.

   
   

Why this list really helps

A checklist only works if you act on it. A blocked gutter can cause a flooded basement, and garden chairs left outside may blow away and damage the neighbor’s property. Simple steps can reduce damage or prevent it entirely.

Extra tips for complete protection

Beyond the major policies, a few smart practices make a big difference:

• Keep an inventory list – so you can prove what you owned in case of a claim.

• Save receipts and photos – ideally digital, stored in the cloud.

• Check your deductible – higher deductible = lower premiums, but you cover small claims yourself.

• Bundle policies – household contents + liability insurance is often cheaper together.

Why it pays off

When a claim happens, speed matters. If you already have photos, documents, and a clear inventory, you’ll get your payout faster and can focus on putting your home back in order.

Autumn storms and natural hazards can’t be avoided – but their financial consequences can. With the right combination of household contents and building insurance, regular policy reviews, and a few preventive measures, you can stay protected.

👉 Tip: Use autumn as a reminder to check your insurance policies. That way, you’ll know your home is not only cozy, but also well protected – no matter how strong the storm outside.

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