Over 4,500 claims have been received by the insurance companies after the storm Hans and the recent downpours. The number of notifications may break records compared to previous rainy weather, some insurance experts believe.
– There may be more cases overall, says Håkan Franzén at Trygg-Hansa.
Thousands of people have been affected by Hans and the rainy weather that has swept over Sweden in recent times. Above all, it concerns flooding in villas, holiday homes and basements. But some motorists have also been affected by driving into water-filled viaducts, or had water enter the garage, which damaged cars, says Trygg-Hansa. A few companies have also reported damage.
The largest insurance companies in Sweden, If, Länsförsäkringar, Trygg-Hansa and Folksam, have received over 4,500 claims. In some cases, one and the same person has submitted several notifications for, for example, both a house and a car.
Record number
Sweden has suffered extensive downpours in the past, such as in Gävle two years ago and Malmö in 2014. But the current downpours and floods are special.
– What distinguishes these rainy weather is the extent of the weather geographically, that there were floods and torrential rains over almost the entire country and for a long time. We haven’t seen that before, says Håkan Franzén, home insurance expert at Trygg-Hansa.
He believes that the recent rains could set a record for the number of claims related to flooding.
And for If, the recent rainy weather has already broken records. They have received almost twice as many damage reports recently, 1,120 compared to the floods in Gävle 2021, which resulted in 532.
Warnings remain
During the floods in Gävle, a record amount of rain fell for two hours, now the rainy weather has lasted for almost two weeks. However, whether the cost of the damage will be more expensive than in Gävle 2021 is unclear.
At Folksam and Länsförsäkringar, there are slightly fewer victims, but reports still trickle in, as it usually takes a few days before all the claims are received.
In addition, SMHI’s red warnings remain, points out Susanne Fagerberg, insurance lawyer and natural damage coordinator at Länsförsäkringar.
– It would not surprise me if the number of injuries would be on a par with Gävle when August is over, she says, although she states that it is difficult to predict the future.
Reduce the risk
The whole of society needs to pull together to counteract the damage that can occur due to storms, and which risks becoming more common in line with the climate crisis, highlights Trygg Hansa.
As an individual, however, there are certain things to consider. Anyone who lives in a house or villa should, for example, regularly clean gutters and downspouts and keep track of the roof and windows being tight. In addition, you can check that the ditches around the house are deep enough and check the slope of the plot.
Furnishing basements as living space, or having bathrooms there, means that the costs can disappear in the event of a flood.
Anyone who lives in an apartment should think about not placing boxes directly on the floor in the basement or storing, for example, emotionally valuable things there.
– The family’s photo album has no financial value, but it will still be an irreplaceable loss if it is destroyed, says Maria Ankarcrona, communications manager at Trygg-Hansa.
FACT So many damages after the floods
On August 16, the four largest insurance companies had received the following notifications of damage after the recent storm. It mainly concerns floods but also occasional lightning strikes.
Länsförsäkringar: 1,700 claims
If: 1,120 claims
Folksam: 1,200 customers, some of whom may have reported multiple injuries
Trygg-Hansa: 935 claims
Source: If, Länsförsäkringar, Trygg Hansa and Folksam
Read moreFACTSTips on action in the event of a flood
Turn off the power as the water may be live.
If you live in your own house and the water comes from outside – dig a trench to try to divert the water and seal valves and other openings.
If the water comes via the floor wells – push a blanket or towel into the well and put a heavy weight on top, weighing at least ten kilos.
Save what’s left, for example by moving valuable items from the basement to an upper floor.
Try to get the water out as quickly as possible. Contact the emergency services if you need help pumping the water away.
Take pictures and film destroyed things and water-damaged spaces. Wait to throw away objects or furniture until you have received information from your insurance company on how to do it.
Save all receipts for expenses incurred due to the water damage, such as the purchase of a dehumidifier or the rental of one.
Be sure to wash yourself and clean anything that has been in contact with flooded water.
Source: Länsförsäkringar and Trygg-Hansa
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