**Fewer Weather-Related Damages Despite Heavy Rainfall: Prevention Makes a Difference**
Despite a summer marked by significant rainfall, Danish insurance companies have reported a decrease in weather-related damages during June and July compared to the same period last year. This information has been shared by both GF Insurance (GF Forsikring) and Topdanmark.
According to the data, GF Insurance registered 583 weather-related claims in June and July this year, down from 645 claims in the same period last year. Christian Stubkjær, the Claims Manager at GF Insurance, believes that the decline is primarily due to enhanced damage prevention efforts.
“We believe that damage prevention is the big difference. It is something both we and the rest of the industry are very focused on, but our members have also become really good at it in their daily lives,” states Christian Stubkjær.
In 2024, GF Insurance began sending weather alerts and advice on preventing weather-related damages directly to their customers, an initiative that Stubkjær claims has played a key role in the reduction of claims.
Topdanmark has also experienced a reduction in the number of weather-related damages compared to last year. Rasmus Ruby-Johansen, the Chief Claims Officer at Topdanmark, attributes this to increased awareness among customers.
“It’s about remembering simple things like closing doors and windows, cleaning gutters, and securing trampolines and garden furniture. It sounds trivial, but small actions can often prevent damages,” says Rasmus Ruby-Johansen.
Topdanmark also supports customers by sending SMS alerts for heavy rain warnings in their area, a practice that Ruby-Johansen says has proven effective.
Both insurance companies point out that cities and municipalities have become better at preventing and securing against persistent rainfall and storm surges, which has also contributed to the lower number of damages.
Furthermore, both GF Insurance and Topdanmark are seeing an increasing interest in insurances covering weather-related damages, reflected in the development of new insurance products.
“The entire industry’s product portfolio is also evolving with the needs of the market,” states Christian Stubkjær.
In conclusion, proactive measures, customer awareness, and community efforts have all played a significant role in mitigating the impact of severe weather conditions, leading to fewer claims in Denmark this summer.