The Insurance Council of Australia has opened a hub in Townsville to help customers affected by severe storms and flooding in the wider region.

Representatives from ICA, which has declared the north Queensland floods a significant event, can provide general guidance to property and business owners. Staff from Suncorp, RACQ, IAG, Hollard and Allianz will also be at the hub to help customers with claims. 

Insurers had received more than 1400 claims by this morning and expect numbers to rise as water recedes, roads reopen and the clean-up begins. ICA says it is too early to estimate the total cost.

“While this remains an unfolding weather event and community safety remains the priority, the opening of the insurance hub signals that recovery and clean-up is beginning for some,” ICA CEO Andrew Hall said today. “Relief hubs provide an opportunity for impacted locals to understand more about the claims process, as well as meet with a representative of their insurer to discuss their claim or the Insurance Council for general information about the claims process.” 

The Bureau of Meteorology says the flooding is mostly in an easing phase, but widespread showers and localised severe thunderstorms are expected in coming days, and the Herbert River remains above the major flood level at Ingham. 

“For it to remain so stubbornly high for so long is really going to test the resolve of locals and it will also mean that the level of damage will be immense,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.

Suncorp says that by 4pm yesterday its brands had received 526 claims related to the severe weather from January 29. The total includes 402 homes claims, 114 motor and 10 commercial property.

Townsville suburbs Garbutt, Burdell and Kirwan have dominated claims numbers. Impacts in Ingham and Cardwell are being monitored via daily satellite flood mapping to understand the extent of current and potential inundation, the insurer says.

More than 200 emergency repairs are already under way and additional resources are on standby to be deployed when safe, Suncorp says. 

IAG brands have received 192 claims since January 26, with most at this stage from customers in Ingham, Kirwan and Cardwell.

“With further heavy rainfall expected in the coming days, and a number of communities still cut off by floodwater, it’s critical that safety remains top priority,” NRMA Insurance EGM of claims Luke Gallagher said.

RACQ had received 219 claims by 3.30pm yesterday. Its mobile centre was on the way to Townsville and it had scaled up teams on phones and on the ground.

The insurance hub, at the Townsville sports stadium, will be open from 9am to 4pm daily until next Tuesday.