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RSA and MORE TH>N on the ground in Cockermouth

23rd November 2009 Print

RSA, and its direct arm MORE TH>N, deployed its Emergency Response Unit on Friday as a direct response to the serious flooding affecting Cumbria and the surrounding areas.

The Unit is situated at The Wool Centre, Egremont Road, Cockermouth and is available to help and advise all residents in making the post flood claims process as quick and simple as possible.

The company's specialist claims team has also been out on the streets to meet local residents and advise them on how best to proceed with claims.

To complement the team on the ground both RSA and MORE TH>N have increased the number of staff at our UK call centres.

RSA and MORE TH>N claims specialists situated at The Wool Centre, Egremont Road, Cockermouth are available for interview.

RSA and MORE TH>N have also put together a series of tips to help those residents affected by flooding:

1. Remember your insurance company is there to help. The MORE TH>N Helplines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call us on 0800 300 699.

2. IMPORTANT: DO NOT TOUCH THE ELECTRICS.

3. Follow advice, such as evacuation notifications and procedures, given by the Environment Agency and your local council.  The Environment Agency has a 24 hour information service called Floodline available on 0845 988 1188. Advice can also be found within their website: environment-agency.gov.uk.org.uk.

4. Once the flood water has begun to recede, if you do have access to your property, and the weather permits, open all windows during the day - the air outside the house will be less moist than that inside, so it helps to dry the house out.  Turn off the heating to save energy.  By mid-afternoon, the air outside will be moist, so close your windows and put the heating back on.

5. Although you will instinctively want to dry items as quickly as possible, do not expose them to extreme levels of heat as this could result in further damage.  If your central heating is working, turn it on at a low, constant temperature so that everything dries out gradually.

6. When salvaging photographs/valuable paperwork, remove excess water and keep tightly together.  Leave these items to dry naturally.             

7. If possible get hold of a de-humidifier and when the windows are closed leave one running for every two affected rooms.                                       

8. Fridges and freezers should be cleaned out as soon as possible and any food thrown away. If you have the relevant insurance cover, remember to keep a list of the food items for your claim and, if possible, take a photograph.

9. Store damaged furniture and fittings in a dry place - they may have a salvage value or be repairable and will certainly need to be inspected.

10. Clear out any mud or silt that has collected in airbricks.  This will aid ventilation under floorboards and prevent rot.  If you have a wooden suspended floor, get someone to help you lift the floorboards and ventilate underneath with a de-humidifier until properly dried.

11. Remove all soaked rubber-backed carpets and leave them in the garden as these will have to be replaced.  Leave hessian-backed carpets down on the floor to dry, as they will shrink if lifted.  Once they are dry, the carpets can be lifted to dry the areas underneath.

12. Once the floodwater has receded, remember it may be contaminated. Be careful what you touch and look out for signs of pollution.

13. Do not attempt to redecorate straight away - it may take months for a property to dry out properly. It is important to check with a decorator or other expert to ensure that the walls and other surfaces are fully dried out and, if necessary, treated to prevent mould.        

For businesses:

Paul Emptage, head of loss adjusting at RSA, said: "In situations like these, we will do everything we can to take the hassle away from people. By following these basic steps, you will be able to reduce the amount of damage to your possessions and your home.  Our claims staff are trained to deal with these disasters. They will relieve some of the immense stress and strain these situations can bring. My advice to anyone affected by flooding is to use the skills and services offered by your insurance company."

For direct customers:

Mike Holliday-Williams, Managing Director of MORE TH>N, said: "Our advice to people affected by flooding is to use the skills and expertise of your insurance company. Our claims staff are trained to deal with these disasters and will relieve some of the immense stress and strain these situations can bring. By following MORE TH>N's basic steps, you will be able to reduce the amount of damage to your possessions and your home."