Cumbria floods

A question about : Cumbria floods

Sadly, Cumbria has experienced very serious flooding again - info for those who can help........

Money can be donated here

https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/

Also....CFM are asking for blankets, clothing and towels

https://www.cfmradio.com/Article.asp?...740&spid=35726

Best answers:

• CFM are now saying that they don't need anymore clothing, blankets towels etc as they have been inundated, but people can now donate money to any branch of the Cumberland Building Society to help thise who weren't insured! Tiger xx
• Thanks Tigerlilley, that seems a bit odd as I doubt there will be many properties that weren't insured and if owners choose not to insure their contents, I guess they made an informed choice.
• I think they just want to help and have more than enough clothing etc... But pople still want to donate. Just heard a story on the radio where a man was on and he had no insurance because it was too expensive due to them being in a flood risk area, maybe there are more like him, not sure! X
• It's very difficult for them. However if they chose not to insure because they thought it was too expensive, that was their choice.
  My cousin in Hull was flooded a couple of years ago, her buildings insurance renewal nearly gave her a heart attack but she renewed and goes without holidays to pay for it.
  We all have to make decisioins according to our priorities.
• We used to live in a flood plain in Carlisle and we had no insurance either. For a low income family, you had to make tough decisions and in our case it was either have money to pay the bills or have insurance.
  We didn't have Sky TV or even digital, no playstation games, no expensive hi-fi, in fact everything in our house was borrowed or second-hand. So it's not like we were paying for TV subscriptions instead of paying for our insurance. And because everything was second-hand we felt that the amount insurers were asking every month was just too much. Overall it would be cheaper for us to replace what we had lost with cheap, second-hand items than it was to pay insurance every month.
  I know that some people find it hard to believe that something as basic as insurance is unaffordable for some, but until you start trying to survive on Ј14k per year with a family you really have no idea. We still struggle, we even go without meat at times to make it cheaper - and yet the Tories reckon that hard working folk like us who survive on tax credits are scroungers. I appeal to everyone to please donate to the Cumbrian funds, these people have lost everything and just before Christmas too. Times are tough up there, loads of people made redundant, trying to survive. Please don't be so quick to judge.
• I apologise, I certainly wasn't judging, just taking a view that some people choose not to have contents insurance, and for those who can replace what they lose at a lesser cost than the insurance premiums it can be a sound decision.
• Well, we were and still are lucky because we only rent, so if our house were to flood, we wouldn't have to pay the cost of carpets, or putting the house right.
  But some of these people have to fork out hotel bills and if you have no insurance, who pays for your emergency accommodation? Who foots the clean-up bill for your house? I'm presuming building insurance would be mandatory for mortgage purposes so anything structural will be covered.
  I feel for them and will certainly be making a donation.
• https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/
  Just donated.
  Living in a flood risk area i really feel for these people.
  I was watching the news area and one woman said her excess was 20k !!
  this is why some of the people dont have insurance
• Do a google search for the Flood Forum (I was unable to post the link).
  They have been very helpful in providing us with support following our flood which was and is caused by an inconsiderate neighbour. Unfortunately because we don't flood from a river or the sea neither the Environment Agency/Floodline were able to assist. The Council refused to get involved even though it was a statutoy nuisance. Our sewage suplier also failed to investigate even though the pumping station stopped working as a result of the neighbour pumping into the sewage system. The battle is still ongoing and we are continually put at risk by this person.
• I'd like to say thanks to those who have donated, we were under 5 feet of water on Thursday, we are lucky, some had more water, we were also lucky to be insured. Our house is ruined down stairs. We still aren't allowed to go back in it as the floods have ripped up the road (one way, single track) down as far as the gas main making it dangerous. Gawd knows how long it will be before we can get back in. As if we haven't had enough to deal with with my 4 year olds cancer.
• We did business in Cockermouth for years, and it's a lovely town, and the people warm genuine people. The thing that will kill the town is the timing, the delay in the insurance companies actually paying out, their normal dodging tatics, and the fact that those poor businesses have just lost the busiest trading period of the year.
• I feel really sad for the people who have lost so much and I understand those who don't have insurance because of the huge excesses.
  The only advice I can offer to anyone who will not be able to move back into their properties for several months is to contact your local council's council tax department and stop paying it immediately. I know it may seem a strange thing to advise but I know of people who moved out of flood damaged properties, stopped paying their council tax and was faced with threatening letters of bailiff and court action some months later.
  Also, if your local council or the Environment Agency sends you a flood survey in the not too distant future, complete the survey with as much information as you can and send it back to them. It all helps for them to plan and design better drainage systems and flood defences in the future.
  I would also urge everyone to campaign against future development on historical flood plains.
  Please remember that this flooding is being described as a 1 in 1000 year event. This does not mean that it won't happen again next year or in 2 years time. Don't mean to be a scare monger but just be aware.
  I think what I am trying to say is, well if I was in this position I would be stashing supplies in the loft, things such as cleaning products, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, anything that won't go off or perish, even tinned food (keep this somewhere more accessable so you can use it before the sell/use by date). I suggest this because, after losing so much and being faced with immediate unexpected bills, if you can put off doing a "huge" shop (remember everything in your kitchen will need replacing) for as long as possible, it will all help in the weeks following the flood.
  I hope I don't upset or offend anyone with my suggestions or advice, they are offered with genuine sincerity and caring in my heart.
  Best wishes to all who have been affected.
  Poo