{"id":15977,"date":"2026-07-15T07:50:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T07:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simply.ch\/aktuelles\/summer-storms-who-really-pays-for-hail-storm-and-flood-damage\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T08:32:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T08:32:15","slug":"summer-storms-who-really-pays-for-hail-storm-and-flood-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simply.ch\/en\/news\/summer-storms-who-really-pays-for-hail-storm-and-flood-damage\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Storms: Who really pays for hail, storm, and flood damage?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Summer Storms: Who really pays for hail, storm, and flood damage?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Around 25,000 lightning strikes in a few hours, a mudslide in Valais, flooded basements in the Zurich area, and trams temporarily at a standstill in Bern: The severe thunderstorms of late June and early July 2026 left their mark across large parts of Switzerland. Numerous vehicles, houses, and gardens were damaged. Once the storm passes, those affected quickly ask: Which insurance actually pays for what now? Our guide provides an overview. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is natural hazard damage?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hail, storms, and floods are considered natural hazard damage. Swiss legislation defines nine natural hazards: floods, inundation, storms from 75 km\/h, hail, avalanches, snow pressure, rockfalls, rockslides, and landslides. <\/p>


Natural hazard coverage is regulated by law in Switzerland and is generally linked to fire insurance. Therefore, if a building or household contents are insured against fire, the legally defined natural hazard damages are also included. However, whether such insurance must be taken out depends on the insured object and the respective canton: For buildings, it is mandatory in most cantons, while for household contents, it is generally voluntary. Exceptions are the cantons of Nidwalden, Vaud, Fribourg, and Jura. <\/p>


Earthquakes are not among the legally defined natural hazards. Comprehensive insurance coverage against earthquake damage therefore usually requires separate coverage. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Which insurance pays for what?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After a storm, several insurance policies are often affected. What determines who covers the damage is what was damaged. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Damage to the building<\/h3>

If a storm rips off the roof or floodwaters push into the basement, the building insurance is responsible. In 19 cantons, it is mandatory through the cantonal building insurance. In the so-called GUSTAVO cantons (Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Valais, Obwalden), however, owners insure their building with a private provider, sometimes mandatorily, sometimes voluntarily. <\/p>


The basic coverage includes the building itself, i.e., the roof, facade, windows, and permanently installed fixtures, which usually also include permanently installed photovoltaic systems. However, certain risks require supplementary private property insurance for buildings: for example, for loss of earnings from a damaged solar system or for damage to the building’s surroundings. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Damage to household contents<\/h3>

For movable items in a private household, household contents insurance covers insured natural hazard events. This includes, for example, furniture, clothes, electronic devices, or one’s own washing machine in a flooded basement. Anyone who has taken out household contents insurance with fire protection is also insured against legally defined natural hazard damage. <\/p>


Make sure that your sum insured corresponds to the actual value of your household contents. In case of underinsurance, the insurance company will proportionally reduce the benefit in the event of a claim. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Caution with water in the basement: Not every flood is natural hazard damage<\/h3>

A full basement is not automatically insured natural hazard damage. A flood in the legal sense only applies if water enters the building over the surface of the earth. Two common cases are not covered: rain entering through an open or leaky window, and water pushed back into the building through floor drains or toilets due to an overloaded sewage system (so-called backflow). Backflow damage requires separate water insurance, as part of private building water insurance for the building, and as corresponding additional coverage for household contents. Especially during severe summer storms with heavy rain, the sewage system can quickly become overloaded. Anyone living in a high-risk area or storing valuables in the basement should therefore check this coverage. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Damage to garden and surroundings<\/h3>

This is a common coverage gap. While garden furniture counts as household contents, the permanently installed surroundings \u2013 garden facilities, plantings, retaining walls, driveways, or the swimming pool \u2013 are usually not included in the basic coverage of building insurance. Simply put: coverage often ends at the house wall, regardless of whether you are cantonally or privately insured. This requires additional coverage for the building’s surroundings, as offered by private property insurance for buildings. Anyone who has invested a lot in their garden should be aware of this gap and check whether the additional protection is worthwhile. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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And what about cars?<\/h3>

Not only buildings and household contents can be damaged by storms. Vehicles are also particularly vulnerable to hail, storms, and floods. <\/p>


Mandatory liability insurance only covers damage you cause to others. For hail, storm, and flood damage to your own vehicle, you need at least partial comprehensive insurance. This usually covers the repair costs without you being downgraded in the bonus system. <\/p>


Whether partial comprehensive insurance is worthwhile depends particularly on the value of the vehicle. For newer or more valuable cars, it is usually sensible. For very old vehicles with a low current value, however, waiving it can be worthwhile, as compensation for a total loss is limited. Therefore, it is worth taking a look at the vehicle value, premium, deductible, and insurance conditions. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Acting correctly in the event of a claim<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After a storm, quick and thoughtful action is crucial:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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