Windstorm Andrea passes through Europe, causing major damage to all in its path

Flood InsuranceThe United Kingdom has fallen victim to the first major windstorm of the year. Windstorm Andrea blew into the country late last week, causing significant damage in Scotland and northern England. AIR Worldwide, a global risk modeling firm, the storm caused damage to the nation’s energy infrastructure, causing several blackouts throughout northern and central UK. Windstorm Andrea is just one of several major storm systems that have come to the country in the past few months. While the UK was severely impacted by the event, the storms intensity paled in comparison to what it had been as it passed through Germany.

In Germany, the storm brought much more than fearsome winds. Heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding. AIR notes that the event in Germany may have been exacerbated by the fact that many small commercial buildings are built with materials that are not resilient against natural disasters. This was mimicked in the UK, as strong winds tore holes in buildings that were not reinforced against such events. Large buildings were not so susceptible to strong winds, however, and saw relatively low levels of damage.

Europe has been the target of a cluster of strong storms recently. As each powerful storm passes, there seems to be just another on its heels. The unrelenting pace has put strain on insurers and consumers alike as they both struggle to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.

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