Industry needs to be alert on floods fallout

The need for the insurance industry to be constantly vigilant on the fall out from last summer's floods was amply demonstrated in the House of Commons on Monday evening when the MP for Tewkesbury, Laurence Robertson, held an adjournment debate on the continuing problems and outstanding issues.
His main focus was the need to plan for the future with better flood defences and co-ordination among the various authorities with responsibilities in this area but he also reminded MPs and ministers that there are several hundred households still not back in their homes. While he was mild in his criticism of the insurance industry for this, it was clearly on his radar screen. He also raised concerns about the cost and availability of insurance in the future.
The industry has done remarkably well on all fronts since last summer's floods. On the ground, its response has won widespread praise and in the corridors of power it is winning the arguments about higher spending on flood defences and better co-ordination. It has also obviously done a very good job in keeping people well informed about progress on repairs and managing their expectations as there has been very little criticism of the industry from the estimated 1250 households in Gloucestershire alone who are not fully back in their homes.
The message to the industry - especially the Association of British Insurers - has to be keep it up, don't ever think this is last year's issue because MPs with constituents still living in caravans certainly won't.