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PM to see damage caused by floods PM to see damage caused by floods
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to visit victims of the flooding that has devastated parts of the UK.Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to visit victims of the flooding that has devastated parts of the UK.
Mr Brown has promised to make emergency aid available after flooding hit more than 28,000 properties, predominantly in the Midlands and northern England. Mr Brown has promised to make emergency aid available after flooding hit more than 28,000 homes mainly in the Midlands and northern England.
Downing Street has denied being slow to react to the floods crisis. Health Secretary Alan Johnson - one of Hull's MPs - said he had been shocked by the scale of the problem, but denied the government had reacted too slowly.
Mr Brown has said: "There will be a comprehensive programme, not just to deal with the immediate problems but also with the recovery." This was the "right week" to start the job of assessing the damage, he said.
The insurance industry estimates that claims will total £1.5bn.The insurance industry estimates that claims will total £1.5bn.
The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) calculates domestic claims will reach £825m, while those from businesses will add up to £680m.The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) calculates domestic claims will reach £825m, while those from businesses will add up to £680m.
Insurance warning It says there have been 27,500 domestic claims with an average value of £30,000, and 6,800 claims from businesses averaging £100,000.
The work to make many houses habitable again is expected to take months.The work to make many houses habitable again is expected to take months.
Mr Brown said: "We know that more has got to be done - with the clean-up, then to help people in distress, then to get the schools back, then of course to repairs." Insurance warning
Diana Johnson, Hull North MP, told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's only now that, you know, the floodwaters have receded, they've got the water out of people's homes, that we're actually seeing what the damage is." Last week Hull City Council leader Carl Minns dubbed Hull the "forgotten city" of the flooding, and called for government help.
HOMES FLOODED IN WORST-HIT AREAS Floods: Worst affected places The Financial Services Authority warned victims to be careful if approached by people offering insurance claim help. HOMES FLOODED IN WORST-HIT AREAS Floods: Worst affected places
The regulator said some claims handlers had been touting for business improperly, offering to negotiate with insurers. It said anyone charging for this service must be regulated by the FSA, like a loss assessor, or be a member of an "exempt profession". Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "On 15 June you had those terrible floods and what people would say here is they didn't particularly want ministers coming down - they had to cope with an ongoing emergency situation.
The CILA says there have been 27,500 domestic claims with an average value of £30,000, and 6,800 claims from businesses averaging £100,000. "Then there was the expectation that last weekend - the first after the floods - that there was going to be another deluge and everyone was preparing for that.
It says virtually all properties where there is a claim have been visited by its members, and the rest should receive a visit by the beginning of next week. "So I think this week is the right week for people to come and see actually what's happening and start the job of assessing what damage has been done."
He rejected suggestions that money had been diverted from flood defences, but said there were serious questions to be asked about drainage systems around Hull.
And he said local people could be "absolutely assured that we are going to provide the assistance needed to recover from this dreadful blow".
Appeal fundsAppeal funds
The Financial Services Authority warned victims to be careful if approached by people offering insurance claim help.
The regulator said some claims handlers had been touting for business improperly, offering to negotiate with insurers. It said anyone charging for this service must be regulated by the FSA, like a loss assessor, or be a member of an "exempt profession".
Appeals have been set up in the north of England to help those hit by the floods.Appeals have been set up in the north of England to help those hit by the floods.
The Federation of Small Businesses has set up a £500,000 fund to help firms affected by the floods in the north of England.The Federation of Small Businesses has set up a £500,000 fund to help firms affected by the floods in the north of England.
Hundreds of people had to leave their homes in Toll BarHundreds of people had to leave their homes in Toll Bar
It said it was offering short-term interest-free loans of up to £5,000 to any of its members suffering "severe trading hardship".It said it was offering short-term interest-free loans of up to £5,000 to any of its members suffering "severe trading hardship".
The South Yorkshire Flood Disaster Relief Fund will raise money for those affected in Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.The South Yorkshire Flood Disaster Relief Fund will raise money for those affected in Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.
The city council in Hull, where more than 16,000 homes have been affected, has launched the Hull Flood Fund.The city council in Hull, where more than 16,000 homes have been affected, has launched the Hull Flood Fund.
The prime minister has pledged to provide assistance to newly-launched appeals. Mr Minns said the flooding in the city had been a "massive humanitarian disaster".
'Humanitarian disaster'
Hull City Council leader Carl Minns, who earlier dubbed Hull the "forgotten city" of the flooding, said it had been a "massive humanitarian disaster".
Houses in the Catcliffe area of Sheffield were badly hitHouses in the Catcliffe area of Sheffield were badly hit
He says it could cost more than £200m to repair the damage done to schools, public housing, doctors' surgeries, roads and leisure centres in the city.He says it could cost more than £200m to repair the damage done to schools, public housing, doctors' surgeries, roads and leisure centres in the city.
Parts of north Doncaster remained underwater on Friday. Mayor Martin Winter warned it could take between six and 18 months before some residents could return to their homes, "if at all". In Doncaster, Mayor Martin Winter warned it could take between six and 18 months before some residents could return to their homes, "if at all".
As well as money, local residents are being asked to donate unwanted furniture to those affected.As well as money, local residents are being asked to donate unwanted furniture to those affected.