How insurers are battling to help flood hit customers

More details have emerged of how insurers are battling to help customers affected by the December and January floods.

Earlier this week the ABI said the floods would cost insurers around £1.3bn, and that the industry had already made emergency payments of £24m to families and businesses.

Insurance Times contacted a number of insurers to get a breakdown of their responses so far.

AXA says it has made over £2m in interim and emergency payments, settled almost 100 claims and has placed 500 customers in alternative accommodation.

AXA Insurance claims director Chris Voller said: “Make no mistake – the flooding over Christmas and New Year has been severe and the ABI’s estimates of the cost to the insurance industry give some indication of just how badly so many people have been affected.

“Much has been said about the performance of the flood defences, but if these latest events tell us anything it’s that we can’t stop floods happening.

“What we can do, however, is supplement the effectiveness of existing and future flood defences by looking at and understanding how people can make their property and assets much more resilient to floods when, not if, they happen again.”

Direct Line has made 412 emergency payments to home flood customers, while 755 of its home claims require loss adjusters.

The insurer, which is expecting to incur home insurance claims of up to £100m, has also completed 97% of first loss adjuster visits.

Allianz says it has made emergency and resettlement payments of more than £2m to individuals, households and businesses.

Alternative accommodation has been arranged for over 100 households affected.

The insurer has 415 loss adjusters dealing with claims who have carried out over 500 first visits to customers.

Ageas, which said it was still monitoring the situation, said access to properties remained an issue in some areas because of flood levels.

The insurer added: “By working closely with our loss adjusters on the ground, we are deploying drying companies as quickly as possible and helping customers with their immediate requirements.”