Clacton Explosion

FTSS were called into action on the morning following the gas explosion and remained on site late into the night providing reassurance to policyholders and support to our clients. Our teams worked constantly in appalling weather conditions, battling driving rain and strong winds to secure properties and sheet over rooftops to prevent secondary damage to properties affected by the explosion. 

Pictures - BBC News

In total, FTSS carried out repairs and provided assistance to 13 homes over the course of the following weeks, ensuring that all families returned home within weeks of the incident, even in the worst affected properties. 

The zone of damage affected two roads with domestic dwellings on both sides. FTSS were responsible for properties spread throughout the entire zone and effectively carried out a triage style repair system to categorise and systematically rebuild the damaged properties based on level of damage to the structure and decorative finishes, and the requirements of both policyholders and our clients. 

To provide the required level of contact and reassurance, FTSS maintained a visible presence 7 days a week for 2 weeks following the explosion. A temporary office was supplied to the incident zone in the form of an environmentally friendly welfare unit and office facility, which provided a focal point of contact for staff, clients and concerned policyholders. 

The incident provided FTSS with the opportunity to put into practice the plans we had laid for responding to a large scale disaster with widespread damage affecting several properties. We proved to ourselves and our clients that we were able to effectively manage such an incident without the need for multiple contractors, which creates confusion and duplication of work for clients, and increased costs for insurers. 

Of the 8 known additional properties which were damaged, to which FTSS did not respond, all but 2, utilised individual contractors to undertake repairs, and only 3 had completed repairs at the time FTSS left site with all works complete.

 BBC Report of the Explosion

East Coast Cinema, Lowestoft

On December 5^th 2013 disaster struck the town of Lowestoft as sea walls were breached and widespread flooding ensued following the tidal surge. One such property and business struck was the East Coast Cinema. 

This was the only cinema in the town and, therefore, as a sole provider of cinematic entertainment, incredibly important to the people of Lowestoft. Additionally, there was a huge financial impact on both the owner of the independently run business, and insurers, so the pressure was on to re-open as soon as possible. 

Image from EDP News

Strip out of the wet and contaminated materials commenced immediately, with a vast array of drying equipment installed simultaneously. By the first week of January the cinema had been dried and reinstatement works commenced. The cinema had to re-open by the February half term holiday to avoid a costly loss of business charge to insurers, amidst close scrutiny from the local public and national media. 

Teams worked from 5am into the evening, 7 days a week, and on the last day, as the sweet counter was being restocked in the newly constructed lobby, FTSS left site with all required works completed. The cinema re-opened on Valentine’s night, marking the start of the half term holiday. The same night, the owner of the East Coast cinema was interviewed on Anglia News with footage of the cinema shown on TV. 

Through close working with the business owner, our client, and all our suppliers, the FTSS team turned a disaster into a good news story.