Protect your club against flooding

It is estimated that flood damage to homes and businesses has cost insurers £500 million during the last 3 years. This is bound to have a knock-on efect on household insurance premiums in coming years.

It is also believed, however, that much of the damage and the considerable trauma and inconvenience assicated with flooding could have been reduced by being aware of the risks and taking simple precautions beforehand.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) advises people caught in flood areas to take note of the following advice before acting and sanctioning repair work:

• Temporary emergency repairs at a reasonable cost should be paid by the insurers, but make sure you keep all of your receipts.
• As long as you have an up to date household buildings and contents policy, you should be covered against damage by flood. Many business policies also cover damage by flood.
• If your home has been made uninhabitable, the reasonable cost of alternative accommodation will usually be met up to stated limits by your insurer.
• You should always try to salvage your belongings but without putting yourself at personal risk.
• Contact your insurance company, broker or agent as soon as possible for advice on how to progress your claim.

BIBA Chief Executive Mike Williams said: "Millions of people are at risk from flooding and year after year many fall victim to swelling rivers or full blown flooding. There is nothing any of us can do about the forces of nature but we can act to reduce potentital damage.

"It is worrying that some people living in flood-prone areas continue to live without adequate insurance protection against damage, not only to their buildings but to their contents. Anyone living in a flood-prone area should contact their local broker, who will have specialist knowledge about insurance products that may specialise in the exact form of protection they require."

There is likely to be more flooding ahead and if your club is in a flood-prone area BIBA advises you to reduce the risk of flood damage by:

• Contacting your local broker or insurance company as soon as possible as they can often offer helpful advice in this situation to help you to reduce the possibility of the damage getting any worse.
• Moving as much as possible upstairs as soon as you hear the flood alert.
• Noting that doors and windows may be swollen tight and floors may bulge, therefore buildings may become unsafe following a flood.
• Turning off electricity and gas at the mains. Drinking water should not be consumed as it may have become contaminated - wait until the green light is given before using any of these utilities.
• Pulling furniture away from walls and oiling all hinges and locks to prevent them corroding.
• Making sure that once the clean-up gets under way, to leave windows, doors and built-in cupboards open and keep rooms heated where possible.
• Drying out a building can take months so don't be in a hurry to redecorate.
• Treating walls with an anti-mould solution before decorating.
• Making sure you keep a copy of important telephone numbers and policy documents in an easily accessible place in case you require them following a flood.

Further information can be obtained on the BIBA website at www.biba.org.uk

May 2003