Figures released by Abbey indicate that over the course of the past week, when high winds and storms have battered many parts of England and Wales, the number of insurance claims it has received has gone up by more than half. During the last seven days, the financial services firm reveals that claims made have gone up by over 55 per cent - the biggest increase noted since the floods seen in the summer of last year.

Tony Beckwith, spokesperson for Abbey Insurance, added that such damage can be "upsetting and inconvenient", with the insurance provider stating that storms and floods are increasingly becoming a part of the country's typical weather. As such, homeowners were advised to be "prepared for the worst".

Research from the company also showed that the typical claim received for storm damage over the course of last year stood at 913 pounds. Meanwhile, the average claim for harm to property via flooding accounted for 15,530 pounds.

However, it may be possible that those consumers who have failed to take out home insurance - or who hold a sufficient policy - may come under monetary pressures. After incurring damage to their property by the elements, whether this is from floods, fire or a storm, it is possible that these homeowners will have to dip into their own pockets to pay for the cost of repairs. This could have an impact upon their capacity to meet other demands on their finances, such as household bills, mortgage or rent costs, loans and credit cards.

To help minimise the impact of storm and flood damage, homeowners were advised to make certain all insurance documents and other important paperwork is kept in a watertight container, while details of a provider's hotline should also be kept close to hand. In addition, Abbey urged people to make sure that they keep a torch in a place that is easily accessible in the event of a power failure. Consumers were also reminded of the need to be aware how to turn off their electricity and water supplies.

For consumers looking for an effective way to fund the repair of a home after storm or flood damage, a home loan could be of assistance. By taking out such a loan it is possible that homeowners can afford the cost of materials and hiring qualified professionals to carry out such work and are left with a low-cost rate of repayment. Furthermore, getting out a homeowner loan could provide borrowers with the additional financial resources to allow them to take out comprehensive insurance cover.

This type of loan could be of particular help to people carrying out home improvement projects. Research by Halifax Home Insurance indicated that a quarter of all major property renovation tasks go over budget each year at a total cost of 4.7 billion pounds. Around a fifth of consumers claim that they simply underestimated the full expense of work such as refurbishing kitchens and bathrooms. Meanwhile, the average improvement project was revealed to be worth 10,320 pounds.