Facilities management improvements could reduce flood risk

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

The Environment Agency will warn an increasing number of businesses about flooding risks, it has been announced.

By Ashley Brunskill

A number of businesses could be set to benefit following the latest announcement from the Environment Agency.

Three months on from the damaging Cumbria floods, the Environment Agency has revealed that it plans to double the number of company's and homes that are given free flood warnings.

Improvements in facilities management could benefit some businesses financially due to a reduction in the risk of flooding long term.

Following the introduction of the plans, more than one million properties with a landline will now receive flood warnings.

Kelly Ostler Coyle, media officer at the Association of British Insurers, said: "This is good news for homeowners and business and sensible advice. Insurers already use the Environment Agency's flood maps and in some cases their own digital mapping."

She added that despite the changes, insurance costs will not be increased.

According to the Association of British Insurers, the cost of damage caused by the flooding in Cumbria last November is now more than £200 million.

Source: ask-re The Property People LLP