Keswick Flood Action

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20-Mar-15

We’ve been asked to share this interesting piece that highlights the benefit of local Flood Action Groups to the insurance industry. Whilst many people recognise the positive impact FAG’s have on the local community, even people working within insurance don’t always know the massive benefit they can have on the industry.

Flood Action Groups – recognising their benefits to the insurance industry

As is the case with Flood Action Groups up and down the country, Keswick Flood Action Group (KFAG) has campaigned, badgered and pleaded for better protection for its community for many years. In doing so, aside from helping to prevent the suffering and devastation that flooding brings, its achievements help the insurance industry by reducing the possible costs of any further flood claims. Since its formation after the 2005 floods, Keswick Flood Action Group has kept up the pressure with the various agencies to work towards better flood protection in the town. Successes so far:

At an individual property level, KFAG organised flood fairs with the National Flood Forum to promote flood products and give advice, encouraging people to protect their properties with flood gates, underfloor pumps etc.

Promoted the Environment Agency's improved flood warning system so that locals are aware of any potential flood risk.

Identified those who are vulnerable and may need help to erect flood gates/lift furniture if a flood threatens – a team of volunteers, who can respond in a potential flood situation to do this, is a key part of the community’s flood response plan.

Over £20 million spent by United Utilities on a new sewage system, opened earlier in 2014. This should not only reduce the risk of flooding from foul water, but also from surface water.

Over £6million spent by the Environment Agency in construction of new river defences, work completed in 2012. This included having backflow valves fitted on surface water drains to keep the river on the right side of the flood wall.

Had additional pipes laid by Cumbria County Council to a new sump to help provide a means of preventing the build up of surface water trapped behind the new river defences. (Putting the river behind a higher wall increasingly restricts surface water drainage. Sadly much of the work needed to deal with this risk was an expense too far for the Environment Agency when the river defences were constructed).

Major work has been carried out by the Environment Agency to improve some of the culverts it is responsible for. These used to be a source of problems.

Negotiated trigger levels with United Utilities for the release of additional amounts of water from Thirlmere reservoir to help create spare storm capacity upstream to reduce the impact of intense rainfall in its catchment area.

Maintain a comprehensive list of key drains and culverts and report blockages/problems as these occur, encouraging local people to be aware of such problems near their properties and be proactive in dealing with them.

Promote awareness of flood risk and community action etc in the community and through projects with various universities

Maintain sand bag stores around the community – not the best line of defence but, used with a good supply of plastic sheeting sand bags can be a useful means of diverting flows.

Much has been done in Keswick and large areas hit by two recent big flood events now benefit from 1:75 level protection (much better than the 1:10 risk from before). However, there are still two areas where surface water flooding remains an unacceptably high risk. One of these areas should have its problems resolved within the next few months by having an underground pump system installed by Cumbria County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority. The second area, it is hoped, will benefit from upstream storage. In the meantime, the community has raised £22.5K to provide a community pump for the town. This was presented last week, together with a second community resilience pump provided by the Environment Agency. Keswick is one of the first communities in England to have temporary pumps available locally as additional security until permanent solutions are in place.

All this has so far taken almost nine years, lots of meetings and a second flood in 2009, which was before the Environment Agency had got funding through for the river defences. However, taken as a whole, we’d suggest that Flood Groups are the unsung heroes in the challenge to keep insurance claims down.

If any of our contacts within the insurance industry would like to explore how they can work in close conjunction with local Flood Action Groups to reduce the risk of flooding and cost of claims, please get in touch with Richard at Aston Charles (0845 8388 490) who will be glad to pass on your details to the author.

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