Heavy rainfall and strong winds are once again putting Catalonia on alert. In recent days, Storm Adam has raised a familiar question whenever severe weather causes damage: who is responsible for covering the costs, your insurance company or Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros?

At Cobertis, we know that the answer is not always straightforward. It depends on the cause of the damage, the characteristics of the weather event and the coverage included in your insurance policy.

Wind and rain damage: What does your insurance cover?

Home, residential building and business insurance policies may include coverage for damage caused by weather events, but not all policies offer the same conditions.

For wind damage, many insurers establish a minimum wind speed above which damage is covered. Similarly, certain rain damage policies require rainfall intensity to exceed a specific threshold.

These thresholds vary depending on the insurance company and the policy. It is also important to bear in mind that:

• Outdoor elements, such as awnings, antennas and solar panels, may be subject to specific limits or exclusions.
• Water leaks and dampness resulting from poor maintenance or gradual deterioration may not be covered.
• The cause of the damage is essential: water entering through a deteriorated roof is not treated in the same way as flooding caused by an overflowing stream.

This is why reviewing the specific terms and conditions of your insurance policy is so important.

When does the Insurance Compensation Consortium step in?

Spain’s Insurance Compensation Consortium (Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros) is a public entity which, among other responsibilities, compensates for certain types of damage caused by natural events legally classified as extraordinary risks.

These include:

• Extraordinary winds: gusts exceeding 120 km/h or tornadoes, under the circumstances established by Spanish regulations.
• Extraordinary flooding: such as flooding caused by water accumulating on the ground or rivers and streams overflowing.
• Coastal flooding and wave damage: when the action of the sea causes damage under the conditions established by law.

However, the fact that a storm is particularly severe does not automatically mean that all resulting damage falls under the Consortium’s responsibility. To qualify for compensation, a valid insurance policy meeting the relevant legal requirements must be in place.

If you have suffered damage, your first step is to contact your insurance broker

When a claim arises, you should not have to determine on your own whether the damage should be covered by your insurance company or the Consortium.

At Cobertis, we review your policy conditions, assess the circumstances of the incident and help you manage your claim through the appropriate channels.

To make the claims process easier, we recommend:

1. Report the damage as soon as possible so we can guide you from the very beginning.
2. Document the damage with photographs and videos before starting repairs, provided it is safe to do so.
3. Prevent further damage by taking any necessary and safe emergency measures.
4. Keep invoices and receipts relating to expenses and damaged property.

The importance of having the right insurance coverage

Two homes or businesses affected by the same storm may have different levels of coverage and receive different compensation. The difference does not depend solely on the severity of the weather event, but also on the policy’s guarantees and insured amounts.

That is why regularly reviewing your insurance policies is just as important as knowing how to respond when damage occurs.

At Cobertis, we help you review your coverage, ensure it meets your needs and manage unexpected events when they arise.

If you have experienced storm damage in recent days or would like to make sure you have the right protection in place, get in touch with us.