NRMA Insurance has partnered with the SA State Emergency Service (SASES) to bolster community readiness against increasingly severe weather events.

The insurer will be SASES’s first principal collaborator as the emergency service reports a volatile increase in response requests.

“Our partnership with NRMA Insurance is a significant milestone for the SASES that will enable us to amplify localised and targeted community preparedness programs in high-risk areas,” SASES CEO Chris Beattie said.

Since July 2021, the SASES has responded to over 10,000 requests for help, a 60% increase from the year prior, with the bulk of requests coming from weather-associated events.

“The climate is changing so severe weather events such as floods and storms are increasing in frequency and severity, resulting in more requests for assistance to the SASES,” Mr Beattie said.

“In the first two weeks of winter alone we have received more than 750 calls for assistance, with the vast majority directly weather related.”

Mr Beattie says the increased prevalence of dangerous weather events is prompting the emergency service to focus on proactive measures addressed at vulnerable communities.

“We are the first to respond when extreme weather strikes but it’s just as important for us to raise awareness of the risks South Australians face so they can be better prepared for these events before they happen,” Mr Beattie said.

The latest NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker says SA residents’ preparedness and concern for severe weather are among the lowest in Australia.

The tracker revealed that 47% of South Australians say they do not feel prepared for severe weather events, and only 24% took action to improve preparedness last season.

NRMA Insurance Group Executive Julie Batch says community preparedness is an essential step in mitigating damaging weather events.

“We can make a bigger difference when we work together so we are looking forward to collaborating with the SASES to develop tangible programs that will help South Australians understand the risks they face and help them prepare for, and respond, to severe weather events.” Ms Batch said.

“As an insurer, we play a critical role when it comes to supporting our customers following a disaster, but like the SASES we know that helping communities be better prepared for severe weather has a real impact when it comes to safety and reducing damage.”

The insurer’s collaboration with SASES adds to its long-standing partnerships with the NSW SES, Australian Red Cross, and GIVIT to contribute toward stronger community resilience.