Flooding to cost insurers millions

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Insurance claims in the wake of the flooding in Cumbria and Scotland are expected to total somewhere between 50-100 million pounds.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said insurers have already received up to 1,000 claims, with the cost of a typical claim likely to be in the range of 20,000-40,000 pounds.

Kelly Ostler-Coyle, ABI spokeswoman, said it was still "early days" with more claims yet to be submitted.

She said: "Our advice to people is call your insurance company as soon as possible. The quicker you call the quicker the claim can be dealt with. As soon as the floods subside and it is safe to go in, a loss adjuster can assess the damage."

The floods in 2007, which hit cities including Sheffield, Hull and Doncaster, caused 3 billion pounds worth of damage, with 100,000 claims made. The Carlisle floods in 2005 caused 250 million pounds worth of damage.

Nick Starling, the ABI's director of general insurance and health, said: "Events like flooding highlight why insurance is so important."

Copyright © Press Association 2009

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