Recent flooding across three south-eastern states has been declared a “significant event” by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).

ICA says it is working with emergency services and government personnel across Victoria, northern Tasmania and NSW to coordinate the recovery response and will continue to closely monitor the weather forecast.

"This is still a large-scale unfolding event across three states with more extreme weather expected later this week, so we are encouraging everyone to remain vigilant and listen to any emergency warnings,” ICA CEO Andrew Hall said.

"Claim numbers are steady at the moment but may continue to climb as this event unfolds, and we are actively monitoring the situation. Insurers have significantly increased their claims team resources as the entire La Nina event has continued across the year.”

Previous insurance events declared significant were July’s severe storm and flooding in NSW, and Victoria’s Mansfield earthquake, which racked up $106 million in insured losses.

Suncorp says it has received around 1000 claims so far as a result of the widespread rain and flooding, mostly lodged in Victoria where more than 11,000 people have applied to the government for emergency relief payments.

“The numbers are expected to increase over the coming days as the situation continues to unfold,” Suncorp said.

Johns Lyng Group, which the Victorian government has appointed to assist those affected by the ongoing flood disaster, says 34,000 homes are estimated to be “inundated or isolated” in coming days and weeks, with at least 24 Victorian local government authorities impacted at this stage.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 31 LGAs in NSW were under disaster declarations and forecast further rain would increase pressure.

"We are living in very dangerous times in the weeks and months ahead," he said. “The people of Forbes in NSW are facing their fifth flood in 12 years. It’s putting huge pressure on families, farmers and food production.

“In Victoria, towns including Shepparton and Echuca are under real pressure." All flood-affected areas will get one-off federal payments of $1000 for adults and $400 for children.

Thousands of properties in Victoria’s Shepparton and Mooroopna have been damaged by floodwaters and residents downstream at Bunbartha have today been urged to evacuate after the Goulburn River peaked at just over 12.05 metres.

In Tasmania, State Emergency Service Acting Director Leon Smith said over 100 residential properties and businesses were significantly impacted. A major flood warning remains in place at Strathbridge for the Meander River, which swelled to record heights.

Johns Lyng Group Australia CEO Nick Carnell says his team will lead and coordinate “vital work” in Victoria and recent experience in northern NSW and Southeast Queensland after early 2022 catastrophic floods, and after June 2021 Victorian storms, had provided "the experience and knowledge to fully mobilise for a catastrophe of this scale”.

“This emergency is unfolding and it is important that resources are mobilised rapidly and effectively,” Mr Carnell said. “It is too early to estimate the scope of work and our initial priority will be ensuring that Victorians affected by this flooding event are safe and secure.”

Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston encouraged all customers with claims from the rain and flooding event to lodge them as soon as it was safe to do so.

“Our teams are in place to receive claims and our mobile Customer Support Teams and assessors stand ready to be deployed into affected areas once the water has receded and they can safely access the impacted communities,” he said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds,” Mr Johnston said, noting further adverse weather is predicted, and some river systems are still yet to peak.

Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the flood risk could persist for four to six weeks, while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said some river heights are still rising.

“A number of communities haven't peaked yet and we're going to get more rain off that higher base, so that's going to present really significant challenges,” he said.