All that can be destroyed by a flood in a few moments. It's vital that people take action to prepare for possible flooding. Five million people live in flood risk areas in England and Wales. As victims of the raging rainfall in southern England return to their homes to survey the damage, ITN counts the cost of this devastating force of nature. Heavy rain over a three day period in October has caused the worst flooding in decades, especially in southern England.
Homeowners now face the biggest bill for a natural disaster the country has seen.
Jeffrey Salmon, managing director of Salmon Assessors, said it was likely to cost insurers over 2 billion, more than double the cost of the great hurricane that hit the same region in 1987. In 1999 insurers paid out some 49 million in domestic flood claims and 17 million during the first quarter of 2000. For people living in a flood risk area, the chance of it being flooded is greater than the risk of fire. The best financial protection is to have adequate buildings and contents insurance, yet one in four households at risk do not have contents cover. More than a third at risk don't even know whether their insurance will cover them in a flood.