Europe floods

Crawford employees have been responding to claims over the weekend as a result of catastrophic flooding across parts of Europe. This event has seen some of the worst regional flooding for many years and many are predicting that this could become one of the most damaging flood episodes on record.

Residents in regions of Germany, Belgium and Holland, who are worst affected by recent floods, have begun the huge task of clearing their neighbourhoods as the waters start to recede. The scale of the damage is becoming clear, as rescue crews continue to look for victims and our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragedy.

Crawford has mobilised its considerable loss adjusting capabilities across the region, and has been responding to claims, whilst taking all necessary steps to minimise potential exposure to COVID-19 and strictly adhering to national guidelines.

We also have contractors from our managed repair service, Contractor Connection, on standby to provide emergency repairs, as well as drying out and clean-up services, across Germany.

If you require further information on our response or should you need adjusting assistance, please contact a member of our team:

Additional Contacts

Benelux, Switzerland, France

Rob Kleinveld
Executive General Adjuster, Client Director Benelux & GTS Europe, Regional Managing Director CEE & Eurasia
T: +31 621 544 331
E: robkleinveld@crawco.nl

London Market

Benedict Burke
Chief Client Officer, Global Client Development
M: +44 7919 552624
E: benedict.burke@crawco.co.uk

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Updates

Aug 06, 2021

To help customers as quickly as possible our managed repair solution, Crawford Contractor Connection, has developed a three-step plan for the current flood disaster in Europe to speed up assistance for flood victims.

The claims processes have been streamlined and we are rapidly checking on all quotations, quickly implementing loss mitigation measures and promptly delivering a verified offer for restoration.

Our three-step plan includes:

STEP 1
Deployment of an additional 250 skilled workers.

STEP 2
Supporting our partners in the regions so that they can concentrate on their core business of dealing with the damage and thus achieve a higher number of visits.

STEP 3
With one of the largest damage restoration networks in the world at our disposal, we have activated additional resources to boost our capabilities in Germany.

You can read more about this plan here in our brochure.

Please contact Christian Koch if this free service is of interest as below:

Christian Koch
Head of Contractor Connection, Germany
P +49 211 95456 168
M +49 162 286 1642
christian.koch@crawco.de

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Aug 05, 2021

Crawford has entered the second phase of its response to the claims surge as a result of recent extreme rainfall and flash floods in Western Europe. Crawford is still receiving new claim instructions, though the volume has fallen from the peak of the extreme weather in mid-July.

Nearly all losses in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands have now been visited by Crawford representatives. Initial advice and preliminary reports have been issued and coverage discussions are ongoing for regions and countries where flood cover does not exist or is optional.

Based on first findings, loss adjusting teams are being deployed to restore lives, businesses and communities as quickly and efficiently as possible. Crawford has assembled experts from across its European operations and its international network of contractors and service providers to support local policyholders and insurers, with the required expertise primarily relating to damage to buildings, equipment, stock and business interruption. Our ability to map resources from across our network has allowed us to continue to honour summer holidays booked by our employees through the surge.

At this stage, it is impossible to estimate the total value of insured and uninsured losses in all affected countries, however, insured losses are expected to run into the billions. Latest estimates from CAT modelling company AIR Worldwide and GDV, the German insurance association, peg insured losses from recent catastrophic floods in Germany alone at around €5 billion, while Aon has projected economic losses in Europe to exceed €10 billion, making 2021 one of the most expensive years for European weather-related losses this century.

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Jul 19, 2021

The water levels remain in many places so it is too early to predict the claim volume and value of claims. Our Simply Crawford team in Germany is responding to multiple calls, every hour, from homeowners and Crawford Global Technical Services is responding to all commercial losses which include many retail centres, car dealerships, industrial parks and parking facilities.

The priority at this time is the emergency response particularly as many areas remain inaccessible. We are also providing support to our colleagues who have been affected by this catastrophe.

We have over 85 adjusters deployed in the area and we are currently moving more resources to the affected regions whilst taking all necessary steps to minimise potential exposure to COVID-19 and strictly adhering to national guidelines. In addition, we have adjusters and advisors on standby from Simply Crawford, Crawford Global Technical Services and our managed repair solution, Contractor Connection, to assist with claims and provide support to the people, businesses and communities affected by these tragic events.

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Jul 16, 2021

Torrential rain triggered extensive flash flooding which swept away homes and cars in Germany, as well as devastating parts of Belgium and the Netherlands overnight. Sadly, there have been fatalities and many more are reported missing.

Days of heavy rain across western Europe has led to many rivers overflowing in Belgium, France Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

In the last 48 hours, 200 litres of rain per square metre have fallen on parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Dams have overflowed and further major flooding from rivers expected.

Many places have been completely cut off, without electricity or freshwater. Water levels have been up to three meters high in some properties. Motorways and roads are completely flooded. Some houses have completely collapsed or are uninhabitable.

Entire districts, including Düsseldorf, had to be evacuated. More extreme storms are expected in southern Germany today.

In Belgium and Holland, as rivers burst their banks, residents had to be evacuated from towns and properties including a care home and a hospice.

France is also being battered by heavy rainfall with amber warnings in place across the northeast of the country due to the risk of flooding.

Several mountain passes and tunnels have been closed, and rail traffic has also been disrupted in parts of Switzerland, as heavy rainfall has saturated the soil and caused landslides and mudslides.