| ociation of British Insurers (ABI) is warning home | | | | Research by the ABI has revealed that 75 per cent of |
| owners, who live in areas that are at more risk of | | | | Britons believe that not enough action is being taken to |
| flooding, that their properties may not be covered by | | | | prevent similar catastrophes while 98 per cent believe |
| home insurance policies, unless the Government, | | | | drainage should be at the top of the list in order to |
| intervene and create measures that will limit floods and | | | | reduce the flood risk. |
| thus their damaging affects. | | | | Half of the insurance claims made last year, were |
| According to the ABI, there are 517,000 homes at | | | | related to flood claims from the victims affected. |
| significant risk of being flooded. The floods of last | | | | Claims were made because of damage caused by |
| summer, cost the ABI’s members £3 billion in | | | | water coming up through drains. The floods last year |
| claims. Furthermore, nearly 5,000 homeowners are still | | | | revealed that many drainage systems are inadequate |
| living in temporary accommodation, following last | | | | to deal with prolonged rain. |
| year’s floods, according to the Government. Of | | | | In response to the ABI’s findings, Phil Woolas, |
| these people, it is estimated that at least one in eight | | | | Environment Minister, said: It was unfair to suggest |
| households do not have insurance. | | | | that nothing had changed as since last year’s |
| Nearly 50,000 properties were affected by the floods | | | | floods. The Environment Agency and local authorities |
| from last June and July, with Gloucestershire, | | | | have undertaken a lot of work to put in place flood |
| Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and South | | | | defence programmes. |
| Wales being the worst hit. | | | | Mr Woolas concluded: Both the agency and |
| Speaking at a One Year On conference today, Nick | | | | councils are using their powers to restrict building on |
| Starling, ABI’s Director of General Insurance and | | | | flood plains. |
| Health, said: The Government must take steps to | | | | Commenting on the ABI's calls for more action to |
| identify and better manage the threat of flooding if | | | | reduce flooding, Andy Leadbetter, head of home |
| cover is to remain widely available. | | | | insurance at price comparison site |
| Flood cover has been standard for household | | | | moneysupermarket.com, said: The report out today |
| insurance for almost 50 years and is provided on the | | | | is another call for the Government to step up its |
| belief that floods will not occur more than once in | | | | efforts to reduce flood risk and this time the ABI is |
| every 75 years, or that adequate defences are | | | | acting as town crier. It has been one full year since |
| planned within the next 5 years if the flood risk is | | | | floods hit Britain and homeowners are already finding it |
| higher. | | | | difficult to find affordable and competitive insurance |
| However, last summer’s floods, which were the | | | | cover, especially if they have made a claim for |
| worst ever recorded, produced 4 years’ worth | | | | flooding. |
| of claims in only 2 months. | | | | DEFRA announced yesterday the Environment |
| Mr Starling added: A sense of urgency in dealing | | | | Agency will be responsible for all forms of flood risk |
| with flooding is required. | | | | management throughout the country. |