The Price We Pay For Flooding

Perry Says… Britain has experienced the most extreme start-of-summer downpour it ever has in over a century. Heavy rains have led to widespread flooding in several areas, which has thus caused extensive damage to property. This is not just something that Britain has been experiencing, throughout the world extreme weather has battered homes and businesses, leading them to have repairs done through professionals like Commercial Roofing, Inc., for example, as well as speaking to contractors to see what can be fixed or replaced.

Record-breaking torrents drenched England and Wales in June of this year in an occurrence which has not been experienced in the country since 1860. In a region where the average rainfall is 2.5 inches, certain places have been affected by as much as seventeen inches of rainfall. As thunderstorms and relentless rain showers came over the south coast of England, the Environment Agency has declared particular areas in imminent danger, including the counties of Dorset and Kent. As much as 23 flood alerts have been issued across the country, with five warnings in the South West and the Midlands. Weather forecasts point to evidence that the stormy conditions are likely to carry on for a few more weeks.

With the numerous flood warnings that have been declared, the Environment Agency has also advised home-owners to be vigilant in protecting their property. Many owners are looking for the services of Property Damage Restoration Company near them. It is estimated that the flooding due to the unpleasant weather has caused hundreds of millions of pounds worth of property damage. Water damage restoration, mold remediation, sewage clean-up, fire/smoke restoration, and more are among the in-demand services as flood warnings are declared.

The Labour government previously had an arrangement with the house insurance industry, after widespread flooding in the year 2000 caused an estimated one billion pounds worth of damage. With the condition that the local government fulfils their promise to reinforce measures against flooding, insurance companies have resolved to continue covering most of their clients residing in flood-prone areas. This agreement however, is nearing its expiration, and no new plans have been proposed to take its place.

According to the Council of Mortgage, there is no guarantee that insurance companies will continue to have the means to support their clients who have property in those areas susceptible to flooding. This situation will then tend to cause an increase in premiums; financial experts have indeed advised the affected property owners to prepare for higher premiums when the time comes to renew their home insurance plans. A number of flood victims have received an increase of up to five times in premiums, while some have been required to pay the initial £5,000 of all coming claims. Even after getting insurance, there is no guarantee that it will cover all the damage. Hence, it is better to take as many precautions as possible. Protecting the house against water damage by administering a dpc injection to the walls or using water repellent paint are just some of the things that can be done prepare for any flood that may arrive in the future.

In the aftermath of the June flooding, Caroline Spelman – Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – has informed the public that she has had discussions with the insurance industry regarding plans that could increase an average household’s expenses by approximately 10 per cent. She recommends an additional fee concerning all home insurance policies, intended to raise funds for repairing damage caused by flooding. It’s quite possible that this procedure would be imposed within the next few months.

Many have criticized Spelman’s proposition, saying that this appears to be a form of stealth tax. It would also pose an issue of being unfair to citizens who have chosen not to reside in flood-prone zones, as they too will also be obligated to pay the fees and in effect fund repairs for other people’s homes.

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