UK faces urgent need for flood education as storms increase in frequency

As climate change continues to impact the frequency of storms and increase flood risk in the UK, there is greater need to leverage education around flood resilience, according to a group of industry commentators.

Delegates attending an Insurance Times roundtable last month (22 April 2024), sponsored by satellite powered disaster management technology provider ICEYE, agreed that insurance customers must be educated about flood risk in order to be more resilient and resistant to this threat moving forward.

This education is particularly pertinent because the frequency and magnitude of flooding events is projected to increase in the UK, as cited in the government’s Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) in the UK: 2023 report, published in July 2023.

Louise Clark, general insurance policy advisor at the ABI, explained: “It is a very young market and there is still [more to do] on raising awareness [about flood resilience].

“I did a series of local radio interviews at the start of the year. There are a lot more questions about Build Back Better, property flood resilience and what can people do if they are flooded to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“People are definitely starting to think about how we can be more resilient and resistant to floods going forward.”

Build Back Better is an initiative launched by public-private reinsurance scheme Flood Re in April 2022. It offers policyholders the opportunity to install property flood resilience measures up to the value of £10,000 when repairing their properties after a flood.

This could include, for example, carrying out surveys to better understand flood risks and potential mitigation action, introducing flood resistance structures such as specifically designed flood doors and using more flood resilience materials, like hard floors.

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Brian Moore, UKGI supply chain director at Aviva, echoed Clark’s sentiments. He explained that education about flood risk is needed because “it’s not going to happen to you until it does happen”.

He said: “Education is important and we need to leverage the stories and scenarios from Build Back Better.

“The sooner we educate [consumers], the better. It’s not something to be excited about, but rather something to prepare for without fear.”

Back in July 2023, Kelly Ostler-Coyle, head of communications and stakeholder relations at Flood Re, said the reinsurance scheme would be focusing on education over the subsequent 12 months.