Association of British Insurers says average payout for domestic claims is £50,000 – a rise on last year – but total cost will be less than half of 2007 floods

The final bill for the flood damage caused by this winter’s storms is likely to reach £1.3bn, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has said. The figure covers damage caused to homes, businesses and motor vehicles by storms Desmond, Eva and Frank during December and over the new year.

The ABI said that nearly £24m of emergency payments had already been made to households and businesses. More than 3,000 families are now in alternative accommodation while their homes are being repaired.

The ABI, whose figures are based on detailed data collected from its members, said the average payout expected for each domestic flood claim is £50,000, compared with an average payout of £31,000 following the winter storms of 2013-14.

Of the payments made so far, £9m has been to domestic customers and £15m to businesses. The emergency payouts have covered food, clothing and staff salaries. Costs for alternative home or business accommodation are being paid directly by insurers.

The £1.3bn expected total for this winter’s storm damage is still less than half the bill for the floods in 2007, which came to £3bn. The flooding bill for the storms of 2013-14 was £450m.

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As a result of this winter’s storms, customers have made nearly 15,000 claims for property damaged by the flooding; more than 5,000 of these claims have come from business customers. There are thousands of smaller claims being dealt with for storm damage, the ABI said. A total of 5,600 motor claims have been received.

More than 8,300 initial visits have been made by loss adjusters, who handle the more severe claims.

James Dalton, the ABI’s director of general insurance policy, said: “The December storms have brought devastating flooding to significant parts of the UK. Insurers and their representatives have been there to provide practical help and support as quickly as possible to families and businesses coping with the trauma.

“The impact of flooding will be felt for many months to come in affected areas. Cleaning, drying out and repairing flood-damaged properties is a major undertaking. Insurers and their expert teams will be there for the long haul to help communities rebuild and repair.”

The ABI’s new figures are based on data covering 3 December, 2015 to 3 January 2016. The ABI has said that anyone with flood-damaged possessions should: