Insurers count cost as heavy rain threatens flooding
Atlantic storms have swept into the UK, bringing wild, wet weather and causing three deaths as winds of up to 70 miles an hour brought down trees.
A woman and toddler were killed at Crimplesham in Norfolk when their car left the road and hit a tree, while a woman from New Zealand died when strong winds dislodged a large branch at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in south-west London.
The Met-Office warned of fiercer winds and issued flood warnings in 88 areas in the Midlands, north-east and south-west of England yesterday, with conditions unlikely to improve much over the next fortnight.
British insurers warned the public to take precautions as the heavy rain threatened to result in hefty payouts.
Yesterday the AA issued a statement saying that the rain should make the government focus on home insurance, and that the weather highlighted the lack of progress being made in finding a replacement for the statement of principles.
AA Insurance director Simon Douglas said: “There are 200,000 UK homes at serious flood risk, and 2.4 million homes at some risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. The majority of them have been able to insure their homes thanks to the agreement, but that ends on 30 June next year.
“There’s little sign yet of a replacement. These families must be wondering whether they will be able to find affordable insurance from that date and I’m concerned at the apparent lack of progress.”
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