NFU Mutual faces £20m flooding bill
Rural insurer NFU Mutual is facing a £20m bill to cover the cost of flooding, with parts of the country braced for more heavy rain today (27 November). NFU Mutual is dealing with more than 500 claims from homes and businesses affected by the flooding, with most in the South West, followed by Wales and the Midlands. In Wales, three separate claims of £50,000 have been submitted for flood damage to farm buildings.
“We have already received hundreds of weather-related claims from across the UK and expect more to come in during the next few days,” said NFU Mutual chief claims manager Matthew Scott.
“Although it’s too early to put an accurate figure on the cost of claims, we could be looking at a total bill of up to £20m for NFU Mutual alone.”
In addition to flooded farms, many rural businesses such as hotels, shops, offices and workshops have also suffered extensive damage, the insurer said.
Vehicles have been hard hit, with claims for flooded cars, tractors and harvesting vehicles reported. Commercial claims for flood damage to farm buildings, stored crops and farm equipment are also being dealt with.
The Environment Agency said there was a continued risk of river and surface water flooding on Tuesday across north-east England, north Wales and Northamptonshire.
Although the weather forecast is improving, further property flooding and disruption is possible across the country as river and groundwater levels are set to peak in the next 48 hours.
Overnight on Monday (26 November) emergency services evacuated 500 homes at St Asaph in north Wales after the River Elwy burst its banks.
Two severe flood warnings remain in place on the Elwy and 200 flood warnings for the rest of England and Wales. Meanwhile, homes in Darlington, Pickering and Sinnington, North Yorkshire, are under threat from flooding.
“Although it’s too early to put an accurate figure on the cost of claims, we could be looking at a total bill of up to £20m for NFU Mutual alone.”
Peter Robson, a mixed farmer in Stockton on Tees, Cleveland, said: “Last night (Monday) it rained constantly through the night. There’s been that much rain that I’ve given up with the rain gauge.
“There are lagoons all over the farm, but so far we have managed to hold the rainwater back from the farm buildings. The flooding is absolutely shocking. I dare not go into the fields. I have sown 70 acres of wheat, but it is completely rotted.”
But on a more positive note, he said on Tuesday afternoon: “The sun is now shining and the forecast is for drier weather.”
The Met Office said the weather was expected to become drier and colder by the middle of the week, with daytime temperatures falling to about 4-5C by the weekend.
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