Zurich and Previsico target flood resilience across UK public sector

Zurich Municipal has agreed a new partnership with insurtech Previsico to boost flood risk resilience across the public sector.

The move will provide Zurich Municipal’s public sector customers with a surface water flood warning system for the first time and free of charge.

The solution provides warnings for insured properties at risk of imminent flooding, as well as local authorities with a new district flood warning service for roads and parks. 

Previsico’s solution uses a combination of rainfall nowcasts and forecasts to deliver continuously updated warnings. The insurtech said it will be “a game-changer for the public sector, particularly supporting local authorities who are responsible for local flood response plans”.

Zurich will fund the service, enabling its customers to reduce significant losses and disruption for the general public.

Jonathan Jackson, chief executive officer at Previsico, commented: “This extension to our partnership follows the success of our work with Zurich in the private sector with firms such as BT.”

He continued: “It will enable Zurich to provide warnings down to individual property level (25m) up to 48-hours in advance for insured properties, a first for the public sector, as well as giving local government support with warnings for roads and parks. It also delivers against Zurich’s ESG strategy.”

Andrew Jepp, managing director of Zurich Municipal, said: “Surface water flooding is a growing risk which we know causes major disruption to our customers and the services they provide. At Zurich Municipal we are continually looking at ways we can support our customers understand and reduce the risks they face. Our new partnership with Previsico will help our customers to take targeted action to build resilience in their communities.”

Image: Canva

Mark Dugdale