A Channel Islands insurance specialist has reported a 600% increase in new cases, following the damage caused by Storm Ciarán.
CI Loss Adjusters expects repairs in Guernsey to take up to nine months, while Jersey families could be out of their homes for two years.
Managing Director Richard Headington says this is evidence that property owners should always prioritise insurance, even during a cost of living crisis.
"I've been doing this job for 36 years. I actually dealt with the October '87 hurricane damage and I must admit, this is the worst damage I have ever come across in terms of storm force winds.
The worst case I have seen is literally where an entire roof has been ripped off. As a result of the torrential rainfall that followed, it has completely saturated everything inside the building - so it's effectively a total write-off."
Jersey was worst-hit by the storm and an accompanying tornado which has been classed as the worst to hit Britain in 70 years.
Mr Headington say he has dealt with fires and floods in his 36 year career but the level of devastation to the properties it hit in Jersey was 'unprecedented'.
"I don’t think much could beat the damage a tornado force wind is capable of wreaking. When I arrived at one property in Jersey to find the entire roof ripped off and everything inside destroyed, it truly took my breath away."
The Guernsey-based company has reportedly received six months’ worth of cases in just three weeks.
It's advising islanders who have suffered damage because of Storm Ciarán or another weather event to take pictures and advise your insurers as soon as possible.
Channel Islands Adjusters says we should expect our premiums to rise as a result of Storm Ciarán as it's impact is felt across the insurance industry.
But Richard Headington warns against skipping insurance, saying it a 'must' for all property owners.
To run the risk of not insuring your house and potentially having to pay hundreds of thousands of pound to repair rather than hundreds of pounds for a premium - in my view - is a false economy."
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