Saturday, February 06, 2010
DOZENS of city centre residents devastated by Cork’s November floods are living in uninsured potential fire-hazards after being "pressurised" to return to their homes.
Speaking at a public meeting with members of the cross-party Oireachtas Committee on Environment, city centre dwellers said despite the flood waters receding they are continuing to live a nightmare.
In a joint statement to the 15-strong visiting political group, representatives of the Middle Parish residents explained that "some people have been pushed to settle fast at a low pay-out" by insurance firms who insisted higher claims would be "fought all the way".
Others are still waiting for their claims to be settled 11 weeks after the event, the group explained, with insurance companies offering settlements "grossly less than the cost of repair".
And despite the public outcry over the natural disaster, still more are being told their insurance cover will not be renewed due to the risk of further floods.
As a result, they are living in uninsured properties which pose genuine fire hazard risks because of damage caused to low-lying plug sockets and electrical wiring.
Among the worst-affected residents is Greg Franklin, who was informed just three days after the historic floods that his home insurance would not be renewed.
As a direct result of the crisis, the downstairs rooms in the 49-year-old’s home on Anne Street, off Washington Street, have been badly damaged, while his car was also washed away in the floods.
However, despite the initial trauma involved, Mr Franklin said the real damage was caused when he received a letter from insurance firm 123.ie informing him that his house cover, which ran out on November 24, would not be renewed.
In the letter the firm said the situation was because the insurance policy’s new underwriter Travellers Insurance Company "has imposed its own criteria upon us".
"Unfortunately, due to the risk presented being outside Travellers’ acceptance criteria, we are not in a position to offer renewal terms to you," the letter read.
Mr Franklin also showed the visiting politicians a separate letter from ESB dated January 30, which said he had an outstanding balance of €391 which was "seriously overdue for payment".
The letter warned that if the cost – which the 49-year-old flood victim said was caused by using equipment like dehumidifiers to dry out his house and make it liveable – was not paid legal action would be considered.
Frances O’Callaghan, a resident from lower Inniscarra, said she was contacted by the ESB on the night of the floods.
During the conversation, at 4.15am, Ms O Callaghan said she was told to evacuate her home because water levels were rising to a higher level than officially claimed.
As a result of the situation, flood victims have called for an independent investigation into what happened at the dam.
"Maybe ESB were five star in what they did, but what we are saying is we don’t want ESB to make a judgement on ESB’s judgement that night," Middle Parish residents representative Joe Noonan explained.
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