What to do if your Home or Business is hit by Floods

Insurers have issued a list of 10 do’s and don’ts for homeowners and businesses submerged under water from flooding.

Issued by trade body the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the advice aims to help those with cover get a quick pay out from their insurance:

Contact the insurer as soon as possible. Most will have 24-hour emergency helplines, which can give advice on next steps and arrange repairs
Arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop damage worsening. Tell your insurer what’s going on and keep any receipts for the claim
Do not throw away damaged items unless they are a danger to health, as insurers may want to repair or restore them. They will also so want to see evidence of any replacement claim
Don’t redecorate – a property can take weeks, sometimes months, to dry out. The insurer won’t pay to do the job twice
Do not do anything that will put the property, you or your family at risk
If bad weather is forecast:

Secure anything that might cause more damage, like ladders or garden furniture in floods or high winds
Keep emergency contact numbers for your insurer, local council and utility companies handy
Listen out for bad weather warnings on local radio and TV
Check if it is safe to use electricity, gas a water supplies
What is covered?

Buildings and contents policies will cover flood and storm damage. If your home is uninhabitable, the insurer will generally pay for temporary accommodation
Comprehensive motor insurance covers damage to vehicles. Some policies may offer a replacement vehicle if the damage is repairable
Business insurance covers storm damage to premises and stock
Business interruption insurance will cover additional costs, like rentng temporary premises
Aidan Kerr, Head of Property at the Association of British Insurers, said: “Insurers know how traumatic and disruptive flooding can be and their priority will be to work quickly to help affected customers. Many insurers will be operating 24 hour claims lines and drawing in extra staff to man these lines. Unexpected events like these are why people take out insurance and customers should contact their insurer as soon as possible for help and assistance to get claims moving quickly.”