Insurance hike a second blow for flood victims

Seven months on from the chronic flooding that seriously damaged or destroyed more than 300 houses across County Galway, many of those worst affected are now experiencing the second nightmare of being effectively blacklisted for home insurance.

Many families, who had to evacuate their homes because of the floods, cannot even get quotes for house insurance while others are facing up to 100% increases in their quotations . . . and that’s without flood damage now being included in their policies.

Even now, there are still dozens of families who haven’t been able to return to their homes as they are awaiting payments from insurance companies so that they can carry out renovations on their damaged homes.

The November flooding catastrophe affected more than 160 homes and businesses in Ballinasloe while houses in Portumna, Craughwell, Carnmore and Claregalway were also among the areas mainly affected by the continuous rainfall.

But those affected by the flooding are still living with the ordeal of having their homes damaged as they are finding it virtually impossible to obtain insurance that will cover them for flood damage in the future.

Full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.