With one in six UK properties at risk of flooding in 2023, Ageas is helping to protect and support its customers that are impacted.
Families and businesses in parts of Scotland were devastated by extreme flooding as Storm Babet wreaked havoc across Aberdeenshire and Angus in October 2023.
Among those affected were Isla and David Scott, whose bungalow in Brechin was severely flooded, with the water reaching six foot in depth within minutes.
The water was so high that the couple, aged in their sixties, were unable to get out. Describing the situation as “frightening”, Isla recalled they had to seek refuge in their attic until they were rescued by a lifeboat team.
They were relocated to a rescue centre based out of a community hub, where Isla phoned their insurer, Ageas, for help. One of Ageas’s claims handlers was able to raise an immediate emergency payment of £1,500 to help Isla and her husband buy any essential items they needed such as clothes and food.
Whilst still on the call, the handler appointed a dedicated loss adjuster to help guide them through the claim process.
Isla confirmed that the speed of the emergency payment was appreciated, and that everyone she spoke to at Ageas “was really helpful and explained everything”.
Visiting her house days after the incident, when the restoration team were in attendance, Isla described the house as “gutted, nothing left”. She reflected on how many people had been evacuated because of the flood, and that she felt for those who did not have home insurance.
As the process of drying and restoring their home gets underway, Mr and Mrs Scott’s stay in alternative accommodation is covered under their Ageas Home insurance policy.
In times of uncertainty and distress that extreme weather events like this can cause, Ageas’s swift support can be a lifeline for its customers.