The Flemish Disaster Fund has received 1,443 claims from people whose property was damaged during the storm on 9 July. However, a spokesperson for the Flemish Disaster Fund stressed that these claims are not yet being treated as formal compensation claims.
According to figures from the insurance industry federation Assuralia, almost 20,000 homes and 1,100 vehicles were damaged during the violent storm that raged on Tuesday 9 July. Antwerp Province, Flemish Brabant, Brussels and coastal areas of West Flanders were particularly badly affected by high winds, heavy rain and hailstorms. Those in Flanders that suffered damage to their property during the storm had until Saturday 7 September to register a claims declaration with the Flemish Disaster Fund.
On the basis of the declarations made, the Fund will now examine whether the bad weather in a given municipality will be granted recognition as a natural disaster. The Flemish Fund will at least in part base its decision on the opinions of the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM). This procedure can take four to five months.
Ultimately it will be up to the Flemish Government to decide on whether recognition will be granted. Those affected who have made a claims declaration will then be able to apply for compensation. However, it should be noted that not all the damage caused by the storm will be compensated.