While it appears the devastating floods rampaging throughout Britain – for the time being at least – are over, staggering figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) reveal that in the two months leading up to the end of February 2014, insurance companies received:
- claims for flood damage totalling £446m;
- and claims totalling £606m for storm damage.
They also report that:
- £24m was spent on immediate alternative accommodation for 2,100 homes and businesses that were affected by the floods;
- £27m in emergency payments were sent to homes and businesses, with the average figure per household claim being £500-£3,000.
Just to reiterate, this was in the space of just two months!
The Met Office has also produced a report covering the weather during this two month period, describing it as “record-breaking”. You can read it by clicking here.
For those of us who were not severely affected by the bad weather, it is hard to imagine just how devastating it must have been for the homeowners and businesses whose whole life was literally washed away.
So, what happens now?
Of course, the UK has seen severe flooding before in recent years, namely 2000 and 2007, so being prepared makes sense. No one can predict or control the weather. All we can do is take preventative steps in being prepared should the floods strike again.
There is lots of useful information online – here are just a few examples:
- government information on preparing your property for a flood;
- floods and how to report and deal with them;
- the Environment Agency (which is part of the government) also has its own website with the latest news stories on flooding and flood defences (as well as other environmental concerns);
- community groups such as the flood volunteers group and the National Flood Forum.
There is also an in depth flood guide from DEFRA that makes worthwhile reading.
Are you covered?
Make sure that you also have adequate buildings insurance for your residential or commercial property. While flood damage is typically covered as standard under this buildings cover, there may be some exceptions – for example, in high-risk flood areas or where a property has previously suffered from severe flood damage.
At UKinsuranceNET we understand that every situation is different and will look at each application for insurance individually. So, if you are having difficulty getting flood cover – maybe because you have claimed previously or you are in a high-risk area – please do get in touch and we will do our very best to find appropriate insurance for you.
