Hibernian Aviva has today (as at 5pm Friday 20 November) helped over 1,000 customers deal with their insurance claims following the recent period of extreme weather.
Hibernian Aviva has today (as at 5pm Friday 20 November) helped over 1,000 customers deal with their insurance claims following the recent period of extreme weather. The company has also extended its opening hours over the weekend for claims notification and has launched a special advice booklet to help consumers deal with flood related issues.
This number of calls dealt with today represents a significant increase on the number of claims ordinarily notified to the company. Of the 1,042 insurance claims calls dealt with by Hibernian Aviva today, approximately 836 were new claim notifications.
A spokesperson for the company said: "The vast majority of claims notified to us today relate to damage resulting from the very poor weather and Hibernian Aviva has today also issued a new consumer help booklet to help consumers prepare for and deal with a flood. Our focus at this point in time is to look out for the needs of our customers and help them through this period."
Flooding has increased in frequency in the past number of years and the cost of the most recent significant flood event (August 2008) to the insurance industry was estimated at €96 million.
Hibernian Aviva’s helpline numbers are for customers are:
- 1850 666 888 for claims notification.
- 1800 44 88 88 Hibernian Aviva Breakdown Rescue for Hibernian Aviva customers who’s vehicles have broken down.
- 1850 621 126 Hibernian Aviva’s Homecall Helpline (24-hour helpline to help locate expert repairmen and tradesmen such as plumbers, roofers etc).
Hibernian Aviva's advice booklet for consumers is available at www.hibernianaviva.ie and the key points are contained below.
Make sure the whole family know what needs to be done if there is a flood that puts your home at risk.
Preparing in case of a flood
- Make sure you know how and where to turn off your gas, water and electricity supplies - even if it’s dark.
- Keep a list of useful numbers handy (including your GP, local authority and us, your insurer).
- Make a list of the vital items you will need if you have to leave your home in an emergency.
- Make sure the whole family know what to do if there is a flood.
What to do when a flood actually happens
- Turn off your gas, water and electricity supplies.
- Disconnect your cooker, washing machine and dishwasher if they are connected by rigid pipes. This will prevent damage if they float or move about during a flood.
- Close the valves on oil or gas tanks outside your home.
- Protect doors, low windows and air vents by fitting flood barriers to prevent floodwater entering your home. Approved and tested products are preferable, but sandbags, timber or metal sheeting placed outside openings will create a seal and reduce the volume of water entering your home. Remember to remove all covering on air vents once the floodwater has receded, as ventilation is needed to dry out wall cavities. You can also create temporary seals using silicone sealant. Simply open doors and windows, spread the sealant around the frame and close and lock the door or window.
- To prevent a backflow of water through toilets, drains or waste pipes, simply plug sinks and baths and weigh the plug down with a sandbag or something heavy. You can plug outlets without fitted plugs, (for example, washing machine waste pipes), with a cloth. You should also place a sandbag in the toilet bowl. Outside your home, you should weigh down manhole covers with sandbags or concrete blocks.
- Move as many items as possible upstairs – for example, furniture, rugs, floor-length drapes, electrical appliances, and so on. If you don’t have time to remove curtains, simply drape them over the curtain rail to make sure that they are above the floodwater.
- If it’s not possible to move heavy furnishings, raise them up on blocks or weigh them down or tie them together to make sure that they don’t float and get damaged by hitting other objects.
- Empty heavy cabinets of their contents and move vulnerable and particularly sentimental items upstairs. Remember that items like photographs or family videos may have little financial value but they are irreplaceable to you. This also applies to personal documents and address and phone books. Sealing these in waterproof plastic bags is a simple and practical measure.
- Unplug all electrical items and move any items you can upstairs.
- If you have to leave your home, pack a selection of warm, dry clothes and essential toiletries and medicines. Fill a flask with a hot drink and keep a torch and battery operated radio (tuned to the local station for updates) and fully charged mobile phone (if you have one) to hand.
What to do after a flood
- Once the water level has dropped and your home is given the all clear, you should take the following action.
- Get advice from Hibernian Aviva's Accident Line on 1850 666 888 - have your policy number to hand and other key information that will help smooth the claims notification process includes date of event, loss type, incident details, contact details, policy cover.
- Do not reconnect your services until an accredited engineer has checked them.
- Dry out appliances affected by floodwater and get a qualified electrician, gas engineer or plumber to inspect them before you use them.
- Lift flood-damaged carpets to allow the floor to dry out but don’t throw them out.
- Use a low heat to gently dry things out – using too much heat too quickly can cause further damage.
- Take care not to use electrical sources of heat near flood water.
- Do not throw anything out. Your claims adviser will need to assess damage to your belongings for valuation purposes and to see if it’s possible to repair them.
-ends-
Media contact:
Alan Tyrrell
Telephone: 01 898 5452
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