NRMA Insurance received 8,442 claims for wild weather damage during autumn, following low claim numbers in January and February, making it the quietest start to a year in over a decade. Fewer storms and rainfall events led to fewer weather-related claims, reflecting the emerging dry conditions that are now driving elevated bushfire risk.
NRMA Insurance recommends the following steps to prepare for bushfire this season:
Have a Bushfire Survival Fire plan: Create a My Fire Plan so you know what to do in the event of a fire.
Do a bushfire home self-assessment: Complete Resilient Building Council's online home assessment app to get a resilience rating and find out how to make your home more resilient to bushfires.
Check your insurance cover: Check your cover each year to make sure you have the right level of cover for your home and contents insurance.
Prepare your home:
Trim overhanging trees and shrubs, keep grass short and remove debris from your property.
Seal gaps around doors, windows, external walls and cladding.
Install metal gutter guards and fit metal mesh screens to windows and doors.
Enclose areas beneath your home to prevent ember entry.
Ensure hoses are long enough to reach all sides of your house.
Keep your fireplace chimney clean and well maintained.
Store flammable items, including woodpiles and mulch, well away from your home.
