content@managingwater.co.uk Flood Defence
Grim future for people living in flood-risk areas in the North West
By Andy Hirst, EDS
INSTALLING anti-flood devices does not lower insurance premiums or give people more insurance options, a report has revealed. But it does say that being prepared in flood-risk areas by using inventions such as FloodSax sandless sandbags is all-important and does provide that most important element … peace of mind. Yet there is no doubt the report makes grim reading for people at risk from flooding.
The major report called Property Level Protection and Insurance has been carried out by the National Flood Forum supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The National Flood Forum is a national charity dedicated to supporting and representing communities and individuals at risk from flooding. The report states: “Property Level Protection (also known as property flood protection) has developed rapidly in the last few years as one way of reducing the impact of flooding and is still developing. Households that are likely to suffer less damage from flooding and the loss of fewer possessions might be expected to incur fewer and lower value insurance claims and this might result in lower household insurance premium and excesses. “A number of households have been flooded and have installed PLP. Our findings are that in most cases it does not result in lower insurance premiums and excesses nor increase customer choice of insurance cover. However, installing PLP does provide many people with increased peace of mind. “A few households with PLP have seen a reduction in insurance premiums and/or excesses. This is usually associated with the ability to obtain an Environment Agency letter demonstrating reduced flood risk due to a flood defence scheme. However, a letter from the Environment Agency in itself does not guarantee reduced premiums and/or excesses.
“Most households in this survey did get insurance in the end but often after a significant struggle. Householders are often forced to stay with their existing insurance providers as no-one else will insure them. Several householders ended up paying annual premiums of thousands of pounds and had excesses that would be a significant proportion of any reinstatement cost.’’
And the report has even worse news for those living in flood-risk areas. “Some householders report they have a serious concern they will be unable to sell their property. There are examples where buyers have been put off from purchasing either because their searches revealed a flood risk or by problems in obtaining insurance for the property. Some householders have been informed by insurance providers that should they sell the property, the insurance company may not provide insurance cover for the purchaser.
“Analysis of responses from householders who have installed PLP was that a much clearer mechanism is needed that will allow PLP measures to be taken into account by insurers as a matter of course.’’ Examples of Property Level Protection include flood doors and barriers, air brick covers and non-return valves on the drainage system. One of the respondents from Yorkshire said: “The last flooding caused an attack of angina and since then we are anxious every time it rains. God knows what the house would sell for now should we ever sell.’’ A respondent from the North West added: “We lived in a caravan in the back garden for six months. Our wedding video, videos of the children and photos including honeymoon photos were destroyed. I have ended up with depression.’’
And an elderly couple from the same area wrote: “We were away at the time of the flooding and all possessions at floor level and up to 60cms were affected with high loss due to internal plaster, doors and fittings and furniture. It was a truly devastating experience for my wife and I,
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both in our 80s, emotionally, in our healths, our anguish, depression and financial loss as the insurance settlement did not meet all liabilities.’’ And one from the South East of England said: “No insurance companies will insure me – other than the existing company I am with. The insurance I had was the same. However, the premiums were raised from £300 a year to £900 a year now. My excess is also higher from no excess to £5,000 now.’’
To read the full report go to page 9
Left: the FloodSax before it is inflated.
Top image: FloodSax sandless sandbags protecting a home. The gelling polymer in the bags inflates on contact with water so they go from weighing just seven ounces to 44lbs (20 kilos) in just over three minutes by absorbing the water.
The alternative to traditional sandbags
Innovative, self-inflating flood defence systems
Tel: 01484 641009
Email:
info@edslimited.co.uk www.floodsax.co.uk www.fadsdirectory.com
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