Some years back, when I announced my decision to return to Manchester, I became the butt of a few jokes from my London pals. They mostly consisted of the usual clichés concerning whippets, flat caps and black puddings. There was also mention of ‘it’s grim up North’ and the weather.
I’ll give them that last one. There’s no getting around it: it rains here. Where I live, on the border of Greater Manchester and Lancashire in the shadow of the Pennines, rainfall is such that I am constantly battling slugs and leaky gutters.
Last year the floodwaters enveloped my small town. The cricket ground and the football club were completely inundated, the main road was only suitable for ducks and dolphins, and, in the next village up, an ancient pub was entirely washed away.
I often lament having to struggle up them there hills with my shopping but last winter I was thankful to live up a steep slope. Homes on the flat were flooded, as were local businesses. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to watch water inching up the living room wall, all the while powerless to do anything to stop it. Then there’s the ghastly job of clearing away the sludge and detritus once the water has subsided.
But there is a glimmer of good news for those affected by flooding. According to figures released today by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the number of flood claims fully or partly settled after six months is now at 93 per cent, with major progress on several large commercial claims in particular. A break-down of that number shows that 95 per cent of domestic customers have had their claims fully or partly settled and 89 per cent of commercial customers have had their claims fully or partly settled.
Mindful of the lengthy – and stressful – process of putting homes and businesses back together after a serious flood, the ABI has published a new guide to help home and business owners who are at flood risk think about steps they can take to help to prevent or reduce the damage done should the floodwaters hit. This is exactly the sort of thing that an industry body should be doing: helping consumers as well as its corporate members. Sadly, it’s not true of every trade organisation out there.
Among the ABI’s tips for effective flood resistance measures to help prevent water from entering properties, or reduce the amount that does, are flood gates, covers for air-bricks and non-return valves for bathrooms which prevent sewage coming up pipes.
Meanwhile, effective flood resilience measures (accepting that water will get inside but helping to limit the damage done and make the property easier and quicker to clean up and dry out afterwards) include raised electrical sockets, floor tiles instead of carpet, waterproof plaster and units for kitchens and bathrooms which are plastic or stainless steel.
Laura Hughes, property policy adviser at the ABI, said: ‘Being flooded is horribly traumatic, not just because of the immediate damage and disruption but also because a flood can take so long to recover from. Insurers are making excellent progress repairing the thousands of properties affected by last winter’s floods but we know that there are still some people who face more months out of their homes and businesses.
‘There are now many different ways that can help make properties more likely to survive a flood without serious damage being done, and we hope this new guide will encourage more people to consider them. Anything which can reduce the amount of water damage done to a property and its contents will help reduce the time it takes to get that home or business back to normal.’
Mary Dhonau, chief executive of Know Your Flood Risk, added: ‘Having been flooded myself, I know how awful it can be. But taking a few steps to both try to stop the water getting in and to reduce the damage the flood water can do really does cut down on the appalling devastation being flooded can bring. There is so much more on the market now to help, it really is worth finding out about.’
But what of the measures being taken by central and local government to prevent flooding? This week it emerged that Sheffield City Council is consulting on proposals to divert floodwater into parks and woodlands in the event of a severe storm, part of a range of proposals comprising an £83 million investment programme to protect the city from flooding. On a national level, the Environment Agency says it is embarking on a significant programme of repairs to flood defences damaged by flooding.
Don’t expect the authorities to get on with it, though. Take the ABI’s advice and protect your own home as best you can. You won’t regret it.
Helen Nugent is Online Money Editor of The Spectator
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