A new insurance perspective on British flood losses

The research work reported here has made progress in creating a central database of insurers' flood losses, the results of which are being reported in detail to UK insurers, which provides new insights into the factors controlling insured flood losses. It provides a new centralised resource for assessing the range of losses experienced to a range of domestic and commercial property types, and draws on floods across mainland Britain in areas characterised by a range of construction types. Being based on actual losses to the insurance industry from recent flood events throughout the UK, it allows insurers to re-assess current levels of exposure, and will aid the more accurate assessment of losses immediately following a flood event. Finally, it is hoped that the work will assist the insurance industry in debating with others with regard to future flood defence policy.