NSW deluge: looks like it’s storm, not flood
With reports from hydrologists and adjusters still coming in following the NSW mid-north coast deluge in late March, insurers are expected to mostly rule in favour of storm over flood and pay claims.
NRMA has called it a “massive storm event” and confirmed it’s covered under its standard policy.
Ken Philips of Oxley Insurance Brokers in Coffs Harbour says the picture is looking bright for most insured property-owners.
“It looks like the insurers will be paying,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “There might be certain areas where hydrologists are still being appointed, which is proving to be a bit frustrating, but we haven’t had any claims knocked back.
“A lot of the adjusters’ reports haven’t arrived at the insurers yet.”
State MP for Coffs Harbour Andrew Fraser says the industry has been “fantastic”.
“They had about 12 assessors here, working basically non-stop, and we’ve had very few if any complaints from people that they haven’t been visited by their insurance company,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.
“I think we do need an assessment of the drainage in both local government areas (Coffs Harbour City and Bellingen Shire) so that future events are not created by overflowing or clogged drains.
“Maintenance and construction of appropriate drainage is a major issue that insurance companies will follow through with some zeal.”
Insurers are still gathering information from properties in south-east Queensland that were affected by the same severe weather pattern.
A Suncorp spokesman says claims continue to come in, but it is not being seen as a significant claims event.
He says there will be no across-the-board determination on flood versus storm.
“It is always case by case, and it will depend on the brand, so people really need to speak with their company,” he said. “Some of our brands offer flood as automatic cover, and some of them offer it as an option.”
The Insurance Council of Australia was unable to provide insuranceNEWS.com.au with updated figures on claims from the storms.
NRMA has called it a “massive storm event” and confirmed it’s covered under its standard policy.
Ken Philips of Oxley Insurance Brokers in Coffs Harbour says the picture is looking bright for most insured property-owners.
“It looks like the insurers will be paying,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “There might be certain areas where hydrologists are still being appointed, which is proving to be a bit frustrating, but we haven’t had any claims knocked back.
“A lot of the adjusters’ reports haven’t arrived at the insurers yet.”
State MP for Coffs Harbour Andrew Fraser says the industry has been “fantastic”.
“They had about 12 assessors here, working basically non-stop, and we’ve had very few if any complaints from people that they haven’t been visited by their insurance company,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.
“I think we do need an assessment of the drainage in both local government areas (Coffs Harbour City and Bellingen Shire) so that future events are not created by overflowing or clogged drains.
“Maintenance and construction of appropriate drainage is a major issue that insurance companies will follow through with some zeal.”
Insurers are still gathering information from properties in south-east Queensland that were affected by the same severe weather pattern.
A Suncorp spokesman says claims continue to come in, but it is not being seen as a significant claims event.
He says there will be no across-the-board determination on flood versus storm.
“It is always case by case, and it will depend on the brand, so people really need to speak with their company,” he said. “Some of our brands offer flood as automatic cover, and some of them offer it as an option.”
The Insurance Council of Australia was unable to provide insuranceNEWS.com.au with updated figures on claims from the storms.