An insurance company has reported a 600% increase in new claims since Storm Ciarán hit the Channel Islands.
The clean-up continues in Jersey and Guernsey after the islands were hit by a tornado, high winds and rain.
Richard Headington, of Channel Islands Adjusters, said he had received six months’ worth of cases in three weeks.
The company said it hoped repairs in Guernsey would be completed within six to nine months, but those in Jersey could be out of their homes for between 18 months and two years.
Mr Headington said: “At a time of year when daylight is not on our side, one of the immediate challenges has been the physical assessment of the damage on all the islands.
“It has certainly meant some long days for the team, but we have visited 95% of the cases within days of receiving them and have issued reports to insurers on 90% of the Storm Ciaran cases.”
Mr Headington said one property in Jersey, where the roof had been ripped off and the interior destroyed, “really took my breath away”.
“The level of devastation we’ve seen is unprecedented in my career to date,” he said.
The company said islanders should expect insurance premiums to rise in the wake of Storm Ciarán.
