Britons admit to being unprepared for floods

Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of British homeowners said they did not feel prepared in the event of a flood occurring in the area they live in, according to new research from home insurer, Zurich.

Almost half of those surveyed (44 per cent) also said they did not know what their insurance would cover in the event of a flood, and 40% said they did not know where to go for information about the risk of flooding. This is despite the fact that almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents said they felt that there is an increased risk of flooding in the UK due to climate change, and a quarter saying they are more worried about flooding since the summer floods in 2007.

In response to these findings and as part of its HelpPoint customer campaign, Zurich is launching a website designed to provide essential advice for homeowners to help them prepare and cope better with the effects of severe weather. zurich.co.uk/severeweather features live links to weather reports and live flood warnings across the UK, and also provides advice on how to minimise damage caused by the two main forms of bad weather in the UK - floods and wind storms. The site also provides advice on how to claim and what to expect from your insurer during such a claim.

Anna Fleming, Property Claims Director at Zurich said: "The key issue with the floods in 2007 and more recently in Morpeth in 2008, is that they were due to unpredictably high levels of rainfall coming down in just one day. Until now, floods like these were classified as a ‘one in a hundred year' event but the increasingly unpredictable nature of the weather that caused both of these floods, means that there is an urgent need for all homes and businesses to prepare for this risk, regardless of the area they live in."