The loss adjusting sector is stretched to the limit with large-scale disasters in Australia and NZ, but the Australasian Institute of Chartered Loss Adjusters (AICLA) says foreign adjusters are helping to meet the “unprecedented demand”.

Institute Secretary Tony Libke says adjusters from Canada, the US, UK and even South Africa are assisting in NZ and Australia, and some local adjusters have come out of retirement to help.

He told insuranceNEWS.com.au adjusters are “normally faced with one disaster at a time”, and in the past two months they have had to deal with the massive amount of damage from floods in Queensland and Victoria, Cyclone Yasi in Far North Queensland and the WA fires.

“They were already very busy with the huge demands of the Christchurch quake from September,” he said. “The geographic spread of these events has made a hard job even harder.”

AICLA President Ian Lavin says although the industry is stretched there are always more international resources that can be called on.

“It’s a question of stretching to accommodate the biggest event first,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We’re receiving offers of help every day, because the international loss adjusting companies have the capacity to help.

“There are global teams that specialise in natural catastrophes which Australia and NZ can call on.”

Leading NZ adjuster Mark Godfrey doesn’t expect Australian loss adjusters will be able to help with this latest earthquake “because they’re already under pressure with the flood recovery”.

He told insuranceNEWS.com.au it’s not yet clear how much help NZ adjusters will need in processing claims from the latest earthquake.

Mr Godfrey, MD of Wellington-based TPA Godfrey, says his company can call on adjusters from the UK and elsewhere if they’re needed.