Flood update from Direct Line

Direct Line has deployed over 100 members of its emergency home response team to areas affected by flooding to make offers of assistance to people whose property may have been damaged.

They are also working with the emergency service teams where access is prohibited due to areas being cordoned off.

Direct Line's teams on the ground are providing help and advice to people to get the claims process quickly under way, as well as authorising immediate repairs and emergency accommodation where necessary.

Andrew Lowe, Direct Line's Head of Home Insurance, said: "Our main priority is to help people get back to normal as quickly as possible and with the least amount of inconvenience".

"Additional staff have been deployed to help manage the higher than average number of calls and we are prioritising those where people's health and safety is at risk".

"However, we ask our customers to be patient with us as it is taking longer than usual to answer and deal with calls." Direct Line offers the following advice to householders if they have been affected by the flooding: Direct Line customers: If your property is damaged, please contact our 24 hour emergency helpline on 0845 601 3004 as soon as possible If you need to move to alternative accommodation, the cost is normally covered under your insurance policy, but please check this when speaking to the claims team.

Take photographs of the damage to your building and contents or film the footage; they may help with the settlement of your claim.

Don't throw away possessions, they will need to be assessed.

Do not use the electrical equipment or gas supply until it has been checked by a qualified tradesman.

Wash taps and run them for a few minutes before use.

Do not rush to redecorate your home as it can take weeks for a flood-damaged property to fully dry out.

Do not lift wet carpets unless absolutely necessary as they may shrink.

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