London was battered by flash floods last weekend, with train and tube stations submerged, a hospital partially evacuated and thousands of properties damaged as almost a month's worth of rain fell on Sunday
London was battered by flash floods last weekend, with train and tube stations submerged, a hospital partially evacuated and thousands of properties damaged as almost a month's worth of rain fell on Sunday. Similar scenes are being seen across the country as The Met Office issued yellow warnings for thunderstorms and rain in both England and Scotland this week. Insurer Aviva says claims are now rolling in from customers affected by 'flash floods'. These are caused by torrential rain which overwhelms drains, leading to what is more accurately known as surface water flooding. Torrential rain battered London last weekend, causing damage to many homes Aviva's data shows that this type of flooding is on the rise, and it says that as many as one in five properties could be at risk. Such sudden flooding can catch homeowners and businesses off-guard, as it is difficult to predict where and when localised rainstorms will be most intense and problematic. Climate change is also increasing the occurrence of extreme weather events in general. For example, Aviva said it received 7,600 household storm claims in February 2020, the amount normally seen in a typical year. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Watchdog to crack down on insurers and brokers charging... Lloyds fined £91m for hitting insurance customers with... GRACE ON THE CASE: Why have I been waiting months for a... Pandemic drives a new generation of Neighbourhood Watch... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP What you need to know about money every week: Listen to the This is Money podcast Andy Bord, the chief executive of Flood Re, a Government-backed organisation which helps people at high risk of flooding get home insurance, says: 'We know that climate change is making the planet warmer and wetter. 'This means our towns and cities are more vulnerable to surface water flooding when unprecedented quantities of rainwater are unable to drain away quickly enough.' Those unfortunate enough to be affected by floods will be more concerned with salvaging some of their belongings and finding somewhere to stay than making an insurance claim. But taking a thorough approach to the situation will maximise the chances of getting full recompense, in order to get homes back to normal as soon as possible. We asked insurance and property experts about the steps homeowners need to take in the event of a flood. Ensure your safety - and your property's First and foremost, homeowners should do what they can to make their property as safe as possible. Stuart Kerr, managing director of Restorations UK, a company which restores homes after flood and fire damage, says: 'Safety is the most important factor when first facing a flood. Make sure the immediate area is safe with regards to electrics, gas and blocked drains.' If your electricity was not turned off at the mains before the flood, get a professional to do this. Be careful of standing water if your home has just flooded, as this can contain sewage and chemicals or animal waste, or even an electric current Flood water can become electrified if it is in contact with electrical outlets or appliances.