OneBeacon Insurance Offers Tips for Protecting Against Flood Damage

CANTON, Mass., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Unseasonably warm
temperatures and heavy rains have caused snow to melt, leading to flooding in
many areas of the U.S. OneBeacon Insurance urges property owners to protect
their commercial buildings and their homes by taking the following steps:

Before A Flood
-- Know if your property is in a floodplain, and determine its elevation
and location relative to local water sources. If it is in a
susceptible
area, consider permanent floodproofing measures such as making the
property watertight or installing pumps to remove flood waters.
-- Determine whether employees and vital company infrastructure are
susceptible to flood waters.
-- If a flood threatens, consider emergency floodproofing measures, such
as
sandbag walls, etc.
-- Review community emergency plans.
-- Develop a plan to limit losses and continue business during and after
a
flood. Consider moving critical employees and property to a safer
location to continue business operations.
-- Regularly check and clean drainage systems on and around the property.

During A Flood
-- Monitor weather reports through television, radio or online as the
situation develops. Flood waters may not peak until after
precipitation
occurs.
-- Monitor the effectiveness of any floodproofing measures you have
taken.
-- Make critical decisions for your employees and business based on the
information you receive as the situation develops. Follow your
emergency plans. Personal safety is most important.
-- If you must evacuate your property, secure the building as much as
possible. Move critical items to higher levels, and make sure all
windows and doors are sealed shut. Turn off the power at the main
shutoff. Do not use electrical equipment when you are wet or standing
in
water.
-- Be aware of potential buildup of debris in drains.
-- If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move to higher ground
immediately. Moving waters are extremely dangerous and can suddenly
overtake a person, vehicle, or building.

After A Flood
-- Have any standing water on the property removed by a professional
contractor.
-- Avoid remaining flood waters. Moving waters can be dangerous, and
standing water can be contaminated.
-- Continue to check and clean drainage systems on and around the
property.
-- Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as
soon as possible.
-- Water can damage the structural integrity of buildings. Have any
damage
repaired immediately. Do not enter a building that appears to be
unsafe.
-- Be cautious of any electrical equipment that may have gotten wet. Do
not restore power until all electrically charged components have been
checked.
-- Evaluate the effectiveness of floodproofing measures and emergency
procedures. Consider stronger floodproofing measures and modify the
emergency procedures if necessary.

OneBeacon Insurance Group offers a range of specialty and segmented commercial
and personal insurance products sold primarily through select independent
agents. As one of the oldest property and casualty insurers in the United
States, OneBeacon traces its roots to 1831 and the Potomac Fire Insurance
Company. Today, OneBeacon's specialty insurance products are available
countrywide, and commercial and personal lines are offered in select
geographic territories.

OneBeacon's U.S. headquarters is in Canton, Massachusetts. The company is
publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OB".

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical
facts, included or referenced in this release which address activities, events
or developments which we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future
are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "believe," "intend,"
"expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "predict" and similar
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forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to
OneBeacon's:

-- growth in adjusted book value per share or return on equity;
-- business strategy;
-- financial and operating targets or plans;
-- incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses and the adequacy of its
loss
and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance;
-- projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per
share,
dividends, market share or other financial forecasts;
-- expansion and growth of our business and operations; and
-- future capital expenditures.

These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by
OneBeacon in light of its experience and perception of historical trends,
current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors
believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual
results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from expectations, including:

-- claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes,
earthquakes, floods or terrorist attacks;
-- recorded loss and loss adjustment expense reserves subsequently
proving
to have been inadequate;
-- the continued availability and cost of reinsurance coverage;
-- the continued availability of capital and financing;
-- general economic, market or business conditions;
-- business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to it
and
pursued;
-- competitive forces, including the conduct of other property and
casualty
insurers and reinsurers;
-- changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their
interpretation, applicable to OneBeacon, its competitors or its
clients;
-- an economic downturn or other economic conditions adversely affecting
its financial position;
-- other factors, most of which are beyond OneBeacon's control; and
-- the risks that are described from time to time in OneBeacon's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not
limited to OneBeacon's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2007 filed February 29, 2008.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release
are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance
that the actual results or developments anticipated by OneBeacon will be
realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected
consequences to, or effects on, OneBeacon or its business or operations.
OneBeacon assumes no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.

SOURCE OneBeacon Insurance Group

Maggie Sheehan of OneBeacon Insurance Group, +1-781-332-7271,
msheehan@onebeacon.com