Although some householders have now been allowed back to their properties to examine the damage, there are still severe weather warnings in place across the flooded regions.
However, soon thousands of people and business owners will have to face the long clean-up process. If you're one of them, you will want to make your insurance claim as quickly and smoothly as possible, to try and get it settled.
Read on for our tips on how to help your provider resolve your claim as quickly as possible and how to get back under your own roof as fast as you safely can.
Tell your home insurance provider now
If you haven't yet informed your insurance provider that you've been hit by the flooding, let them know as quickly as possible.
Your insurer will have a 24-hour emergency line and might even have staff on the ground in areas that have been badly affected.
People needing alternative accommodation should speak to their insurance firm before they make arrangements, to see exactly what's covered.
Drying out your home
Unfortunately, in the winter it can take a long time to dry out a property. If it's practical to do so, keep the doors and windows open during the daytime, when the air outside is less moist than inside.
Then, in the evenings close your windows and turn the heating on, to help speed up the drying process. Keep your heating on a low temperature to help things dry out gradually, as rushing it can cause more damage.
Your home insurer may have dehumidifiers or other equipment to help you.
Don't ditch the damage
Once you've started the clean-up, it's hugely tempting to just throw everything you can't salvage into bin liners - it's a way to start clearing out the chaos and feeling more on top of the process.
However, you should try not to throw anything away until your insurance provider confirms that's alright - you may need to show them damaged items.
If you have to dispose of something, take pictures of it first.
Photograph the lot
Take photographs of as much of the damage to your home as possible, so you can show your insurance provider the full extent of it. This protects you from any potential disputes over your claim.
If your camera has been destroyed by the flooding then beg or borrow one from a friend or neighbour - it's important to protect your claim.
Don't forget that many mobile phones can take perfectly good pictures.
Don't forget food
Most policies will allow you to claim for the contents of your freezer and many people will have a great deal of food stored that's no longer safe to eat.
If you need to claim for spoiled food, make sure you keep a careful note of what you've thrown out - and take a picture too so there's no dispute.
Don't start too soon
Redecorating a property before it has fully dried out can cause real problems and cost even more money later on - if mould damages the paint for example.
Your home insurance provider should be able to advise you on what to do, so it's important to communicate with them.
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