Storms that hit Queensland last Friday and moved down the NSW coast over the weekend to hit Tasmania today will cost insurers tens of millions of dollars based on claims so far received, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) says.

The council has declared the storms a catastrophe, with NSW and Queensland claims already topping 11,150 worth an estimated $38 million.

The east coast low formed in Queensland late on Friday and moved down the coast, hitting Sydney on Sunday. It left around 30,000 NSW homes in the Sydney region temporarily without power.

Acting CEO Karl Sullivan says most claims relate to typical storm damage, such as roof and gutter damage and falling trees.

“There are also reports of cars being flooded in some locations,” he said.

“ICA expects the number of claims will keep rising over coming days as evacuated residents return to their homes,"

NSW State Emergency Services (SES) spokesman Stephanie Sullivan told insuranceNEWS.com.au more than 9600 calls for help had been received by this morning, 3890 homes have been evacuated and 284 flood rescues carried out.

“The phones are still really active,” she said. “What is unusual about this is how widespread the flood rescues have been.”

Ms Sullivan says the SES has rescued people as far inland as Dubbo, as well as in Lismore to the north, and south to Nowra, Wollongong and Picton.

The storms have led to three deaths, according to reports. A man’s body was found in a ute in south-west Sydney, while in Bowral the body of a 65- year-old man was recovered after his car was swept away. West of Canberra, a 37-year-old man from Kambah died after his ute was swept away near the Cotter River.

Spokesmen for leading domestic insurers Suncorp and IAG told insuranceNEWS.com.au this afternoon it is too early to comment on the extent of damage.

IAG has activated its emergency online lodgement and disaster response systems, and claims teams have been set up.

The huge low pressure system combined with a king tide caused erosion at the northern Sydney beachside centres of Collaroy and Narrabeen, with some beachfront homes losing five metres of front yard and having their foundations damaged.

ICA spokesman Campbell Fuller told insuranceNEWS.com.au home insurance policies do not normally cover that kind of erosion damage.

“Home insurance policies typically do not cover damage caused by actions of the sea, such as coastal erosion, king tides or storm surges,” he said.

“Some 93% of all new home insurance policies purchased in Australia now include cover for flooding under the standard definition, but neither actions of the sea nor the effects of gradual sea level rise are considered to be flooding for insurance purposes.”

Mr Fuller says a small number of policies on the market will cover actions of the sea “under certain circumstances” and homeowners should shop around for the appropriate policy.

The Gippsland region in Victoria’s east is currently experiencing flooding, with record rainfall recorded at Gabo Island, Mallacoota and Mount Delegate.

Tasmania is facing its worst flooding in decades as the storm moves across the northeast and centre of the island state, towards the southwest. Hobart is expected to miss most of the intense rainfall and high winds.