Flash Flooding and Flood Risk Home Insurance
It’s the middle of August, the UK is enjoying record breaking temperatures and we’re choosing to write about flood risk home insurance. This is because there is a link between global warming, rising temperatures and flash flooding. It’s this link that means UK heatwaves are sharing the headlines with heavy rains and flash floods in the north of England, particularly around Manchester, the Peak District and Yorkshire.
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Last week the Derbyshire Town of Whaley Bridge and surrounding areas had to be evacuated for nearly a week whilst emergency services worked around the clock to sure-up damage to the dam wall of Toddbrook Reservoir following heavy rain. Heavy rainfall caused floods and landslides across the north of England, just days after Cambridge experienced the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the UK.
Experts now believe that although temperatures are set to increase and Britain will experience more heatwaves and hotter summers, flash flooding will also become the norm. Advanced climate models predict that although less rain will fall, when it does fall these events will be intense, with more than 30mm of rain falling within in an hour. These are the perfect conditions for flash floods.
Flash flooding occurs when torrential rain falls so quickly that there isn’t the time for it to disperse at its natural rate and return to the water table. In comparison to traditional flood risks which can take effect over many days or even weeks, the damaged caused by flash floods can occur within a few minutes or hours of heavy rainfall.
Significantly flash flooding events often happen after prolonged hot and dry spells. The hot weather means that the ground is hard and dry and so slow to absorb excessive levels of rainfall. It’s for similar reasons that flash floods occur in built-up urban areas where impermeable surfaces such as tarmac and concrete can’t absorb the surplus water. Traditional drainage is unable to cope with sudden downpours of such velocity.
Properties prone to flooding have traditionally found it difficult to get the insurance cover they need at competitive prices using standard insurers. Specialist insurance providers such as Highworth Insurance, who are able to access properties on a case-by-case basis and underwrite accordingly, have for a long time been able to help home owners with properties in flood risk areas.
The government’s not-for-profit initiative Flood Re was put in place in April 2016 to assist insurers in providing affordable cover for flood risk homes in the face of increased flood risk and rising sea levels. Conditions apply to properties qualifying for a Flood Re policy. The main criteria states that the property is in council tax band A-H, is for residential purposes and was built before 1st January 2009.
Even if you don’t live in a flood risk area, given the increase in flash flooding, particularly in urban areas, it can be interesting to look at the government’s interactive map which indicates long term flood risk information for both surface water flooding and flood risks from rivers and seas.
Another very useful service is the government’s flood information service which lists daily flood warnings for England as well as providing useful information on what to do in the event of a flood.
Get a Quote
Highworth Insurance specialise in flood risk home insurance. Our experienced Account Managers are available to discuss your unique flood risk requirements Monday to Friday between 9am and 6:30pm and on Saturdays between 9am and 12:30pm. Experienced in this area and able to address requests on a case-by-case basis, they will be able to give you a competitive quotation on: 01202 937430.
Get a Quote
Last week the Derbyshire Town of Whaley Bridge and surrounding areas had to be evacuated for nearly a week whilst emergency services worked around the clock to sure-up damage to the dam wall of Toddbrook Reservoir following heavy rain. Heavy rainfall caused floods and landslides across the north of England, just days after Cambridge experienced the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the UK.
Experts now believe that although temperatures are set to increase and Britain will experience more heatwaves and hotter summers, flash flooding will also become the norm. Advanced climate models predict that although less rain will fall, when it does fall these events will be intense, with more than 30mm of rain falling within in an hour. These are the perfect conditions for flash floods.
What is Flash Flooding?
Flash flooding occurs when torrential rain falls so quickly that there isn’t the time for it to disperse at its natural rate and return to the water table. In comparison to traditional flood risks which can take effect over many days or even weeks, the damaged caused by flash floods can occur within a few minutes or hours of heavy rainfall.
Significantly flash flooding events often happen after prolonged hot and dry spells. The hot weather means that the ground is hard and dry and so slow to absorb excessive levels of rainfall. It’s for similar reasons that flash floods occur in built-up urban areas where impermeable surfaces such as tarmac and concrete can’t absorb the surplus water. Traditional drainage is unable to cope with sudden downpours of such velocity.
Specialist insurance for flood risk homes
Properties prone to flooding have traditionally found it difficult to get the insurance cover they need at competitive prices using standard insurers. Specialist insurance providers such as Highworth Insurance, who are able to access properties on a case-by-case basis and underwrite accordingly, have for a long time been able to help home owners with properties in flood risk areas.
The government’s not-for-profit initiative Flood Re was put in place in April 2016 to assist insurers in providing affordable cover for flood risk homes in the face of increased flood risk and rising sea levels. Conditions apply to properties qualifying for a Flood Re policy. The main criteria states that the property is in council tax band A-H, is for residential purposes and was built before 1st January 2009.
Even if you don’t live in a flood risk area, given the increase in flash flooding, particularly in urban areas, it can be interesting to look at the government’s interactive map which indicates long term flood risk information for both surface water flooding and flood risks from rivers and seas.
Another very useful service is the government’s flood information service which lists daily flood warnings for England as well as providing useful information on what to do in the event of a flood.
Get a Quote
Flood Risk Home Insurance
Highworth Insurance specialise in flood risk home insurance. Our experienced Account Managers are available to discuss your unique flood risk requirements Monday to Friday between 9am and 6:30pm and on Saturdays between 9am and 12:30pm. Experienced in this area and able to address requests on a case-by-case basis, they will be able to give you a competitive quotation on: 01202 937430.
To discuss your insurance needs with an experienced account manager please call 01202 937430 or apply online to get an instant quote