Storms in Portugal: Practical Tips and Effective Solutions to Protect Your Home and Car

”March has already seen four low-pressure systems, a record for this month." This is the title of an News article from March 2025 published in the newspaper Público and shows us how extreme rain and wind events have become increasingly frequent and severe in Portugal since 1991.

Just a few years ago, to find records of hurricanes and major floods, we had to consult compendiums of Portuguese history. However, everything has changed in recent times. Hurricanes and tornadoes, once completely exceptional phenomena, have become almost an everyday occurrence in the 21st century—just look at how easily we remember their names.

This increase in the frequency and intensity of storms in Portugal is not merely indicative of profound changes in climate patterns. The consequences of such phenomena are often devastating for people, property, and animals, who, after a storm passes, pay a high price—both economically and emotionally—for the damage caused.

Physical, emotional, and financial preparedness is essential to minimizing the impact of a storm on your life—but to what extent?

That's what we're going to help you find out next.

How do you prepare for a storm?

To be prepared to weather a storm, there’s a lot of groundwork you need to do yourself, which includes, for example, putting together a first-aid kit. But in practical terms, there are a few more things you can prepare in advance, namely:

• Make sure your emergency kit includes flashlights, batteries, a radio, canned food, and drinking water;
• Check roofs and windows, and clear out gutters;
• Make sure that loose objects (furniture, trash, flowerpots, etc.) on balconies or in gardens are secured;
• Park your car in a garage or a sheltered area;
• Unplug televisions, computers, and other important appliances from the outlets;
• Follow and take very seriously the weather advisories issued by the authorities, particularly the IPMA (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere) and Civil Protection;
• Please confirm that the insurance policies you have purchased (Comprehensive Home Insurance, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, etc.) are in effect (i.e., paid up) and what coverage they provide.

How can you protect your car?

As we pointed out in the previous section, it is important to park your car in a garage or a sheltered area to prevent a tree from falling on it or a flash flood from sweeping it away.

However, protecting your car should also involve other preventive measures, such as purchasing auto insurance that covers damage from natural disasters.

Basic auto insurance is essential for driving your car. However, you can supplement it with additional coverage, one of which provides protection in the event of damage caused by storms (known as “Natural Phenomena” coverage).

In practice, this insurance not only provides you with the most common types of coverage—including civil liability, travel assistance, isolated glass breakage, and a replacement vehicle—but also offers extra protection through coverage for theft and robbery, acts of vandalism, and natural phenomena, which include extreme weather events (storms, floods, hail, falling trees, etc.).

With regard to this last type of coverage, repair or compensation is guaranteed for damage caused to the insured vehicle by storms, floods, seismic events, or landslides, as well as by the falling of trees, roof tiles, chimneys, walls, or urban structures caused by the aforementioned events.

Whether you're purchasing a new vehicle or switching insurance providers, EXS offers you full support and guidance throughout the selection process to help you find the plan that best fits your needs.

To make this easier, you can get a quote for your auto insurance on this page.

In addition to helping you choose an insurance plan, EXS will handle all the paperwork and negotiations with the insurance company, act as a mediator—at no cost—between you and the insurer, and walk you through, step by step, all the steps involved until you have the best coverage and deductible that meets your goals at the most competitive price.

If your car is damaged by a natural disaster, the EXS team of professionals will immediately provide you with all the support you need to file a report and follow up on the incident.

How can you protect your home?

In addition to protecting your car with adequate insurance, it's important to pay special attention to your home.

In this regard:

• Perform regular maintenance on your roof;
• Reinforce doors and windows;
• Install drainage systems or flood barriers if necessary;
• Clean chimneys, heating systems, and boilers;
• Check for leaks in the attic and basement;
• Get comprehensive home insurance that covers storms, floods, high winds, and falling trees.

Preventive maintenance is an excellent way to protect against inclement weather, but when a storm hits and causes damage, it will be essential to ensure that the damage is repaired—and this can only be achieved with comprehensive multi-risk insurance.

Multi-Risk Insurance: The Protection Your Home Needs

Comprehensive home insurance should be comprehensive and tailored to your home and your family. It should offer coverage that best fits your needs and the specific characteristics of your home, ensuring 360-degree protection that includes:

• Fire, Lightning, and Explosion;
• Storms and Floods;
• Water Damage (burst pipes);
• Property Liability Insurance;
• Electrical Hazards and Cosmetic Damage.

EXS can help you find a solution tailored to your needs, which may include coverage for the property’s contents, the home’s infrastructure, or both—all at a competitive price that will save you money compared to other similar solutions.

Benefits of purchasing insurance through a broker like EXS

If you choose to ensure maximum protection for your assets through EXS, you are guaranteed to enjoy the following benefits:

• Comprehensive coverage tailored to your needs;
• Expert assistance in choosing the right insurance;
• Simplified enrollment and claims management processes;
• Customized options for different profiles and budgets;
• Access to the best multi-risk home and auto insurance policies on the market.

What should you do when the worst happens?

It’s no longer a question of “if it will happen.” With changing weather patterns, the only question is when the next storm will hit us, sweeping away everything in its path.

Not everything. If we ensure the necessary protection in a timely manner, we’ll be better prepared to deal with the consequences and potential damage that a flood or storm could cause to our home or our car.

As we’ve seen, in addition to all the precautions we should take to mitigate the impact of storms on our property, purchasing storm coverage as part of your home or auto insurance will help ensure that your entire family can weather these extreme natural events with greater emotional and financial peace of mind.

Don't wait for the next storm to protect what matters most to you. Order yours now online simulation at EXS and sleep soundly, rain or shine!