Storm chaos in Germany: What those affected urgently need to know!

Storm chaos in Germany: What those affected urgently need to know!

Südosten Deutschlands, Deutschland - On June 4, 2025, southeast of Germany is facing a massive storm situation. Regions such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia are affected by hurricane-like gusts of up to 120 km/h, while hail up to 7 cm tall and heavy rain with up to 40 liters per square meter is expected. Weather services and disaster protection urgently warn of fall floods, flooded streets and full cellars. Right to life for people who are in cellars and considerable damage to orchards, fields, cars, windows and facades cannot be ruled out.

The dangers are diverse: there are threatening trees, lightning strikes that can cause fires, as well as the possibility of the development of tornados. In view of the extreme weather conditions, the question of insurance coverage arises for those affected. According to HNA , certain conditions must be fulfilled so that insurance. A storm has to reach wind strength 8 (at least 62 km/h) so that residential building or household insurance come into force. While hail and lightning strike are usually insured, flood damage can often only be covered by elementary damage insurance. This type of protection against natural hazards is voluntary in Germany, but experts demand compulsory insurance due to increasing extreme weather events.

liability issues and insurance

storm can cause considerable damage to roofs, cellars and vehicles. This requires quick action by those affected to document the damage. According to Consumer center damage must be reported immediately to the insurance. Damage to a house, such as on the roof, on windows or in the basement, are covered by residential building insurance, while household insurance protects damage to moving objects.

storm damage is covered by various insurance companies, but different regulations apply. For example, the partial comprehensive insurance is liable for damage caused by fallen trees, while the tree owner can be held responsible for rotten trees. In healthy, decaying trees, it is considered "force majeure", so that the owner is not liable. Damage caused by floods are only covered by elementary damage insurance, which is becoming increasingly important, especially in view of the increasing extreme weather events.

Important information for consumers

The insurance landscape offers various protection against natural disasters. According to consumer lawyer , consumers should carefully examine their insurance policies and find out about specific risks of the location. The insurer is obliged to secure certain risks in accordance with § 1 VVG, but the delimitation between insured and not insured damage often remains unclear. In disputes, the policyholder's obligation to cooperate should be observed.

The notification of damage must usually be made immediately in order to increase the opportunities for compensation. Legal regulations, such as § 30 VVG, provide a period of one month to regulate damage after the insured event has been reported. In the case of major damage events, insurance companies face special challenges, which can lead to delays in damage processing.

For those affected by this severe storm situation, it is essential to document the damage and act quickly to ensure that they can be adequately compensated.