New Study Suggests Nation Unprepared for Floods

New Study Suggests Nation Unprepared for Floods PR Newswire LONDON, December 13, 2012 LONDON, December 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 72% of homeowners don't check flood risk when they move house [1]A new survey undertaken by the online flood report provider, RiskCentral.co.uk, reveals that despite the UK suffering some of its most severe floods this year, over a third (35%) of homeowners admit that they aren't prepared for dealing with flooding to their home. Furthermore, it highlights that nearly a quarter of homeowners (23%) have left themselves exposed with no home insurance to protect them from flooding. Homeowners are not prioritising information about flood risk when they move house with 72% reporting that they don't bother to find out if an area is at risk of flooding. 63% of respondents would only prioritise flood risk if alerted by a surveyor. This is a worrying statistic as surveyors are not specifically tasked with investigating flood risk. The study suggests that lack of awareness and access to good information is a key factor in people's attitudes to flood risk. Over half (54%) of homebuyers that were actually concerned about flooding reported that they struggled to find the information they needed. Of those currently insured 41% reported that the cost of insurance had increased which suggests that the number of homeowners with no home insurance may well increase in the future, placing more people at risk.