Surge events don’t just follow natural disasters. Surges can also refer to an increase in domestic claims made during a specific time period, for example property damage-related claims from burst pipes during winter months.
Because surges are unpredictable we’re continuously anticipating, risk assessing and reviewing our contingency plans. We expect the same of our suppliers. We’ve been impacted ourselves by severe flooding in one of our office locations. Whilst catastrophic and hugely stressful, our own experiences have massively informed our Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans which incorporate surge events. As part of the hotelshopuk, Rapid Relocate is able to utilise group resources to scale up operations to handle the inevitable increase in claim volumes.
We recognise the importance of frequent, regular, proactive and responsive informative communications as one of the hallmarks for a great experience working with Rapid Relocate – which is never needed more than during a surge event.
Recent notable surge events in the UK include:
- 2015: Storm Desmond led to widespread flooding in Cumbria, Yorkshire, southern Scotland and parts of Ireland.
- 2016: Strong winds and heavy rain from storm Angus (south west England).
- 2017: Ex-Hurricane Ophelia brought very strong winds to the west of the UK and Ireland.
- 2018: The Beast from the East – leading to weeks of freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and heavy winds.
- 2019: severe flooding in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire after a whole month’s average rain fell in 24 hours.
- 2020: Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis causing flooding.
- 2021: Summer flash flooding in Peterborough and North London.
- 2022: Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.
- 2022-23: The Big Freeze
- 2023: Storm Babet
